India reports 1st suspected case of Mpox
India has reported its first suspected case of monkeypox (Mpox), a viral disease that causes symptoms similar to smallpox. The patient, a young man who recently returned from a country experiencing an Mpox outbreak, is currently isolated in a designated hospital. He is symptomatic but stable, and samples have been collected to confirm the presence of the virus.
Contact tracing initiated, no cause for alarm: NCDC
"Samples from the patient are being tested to confirm the presence of Mpox. The case is being managed in line with established protocols, and contact tracing is ongoing to identify potential sources and assess the impact within the country," the Health Ministry said. However, officials have assured that there is no cause for alarm as the country is well-prepared to handle isolated travel-related cases. "Robust measures are in place to manage and mitigate any potential risk," they added.
Understanding Mpox: Transmission and symptoms
Mpox is a viral disease transmitted to humans by infected animals, but it can also spread from human to human through close physical contact. The symptoms include fever, muscular aches, and large boil-like skin lesions. The World Health Organization declared an international emergency on August 14 due to a surge in cases of the new Clade 1b strain in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Clade 1b is a new strain of the virus that is believed to be more deadly.
Mpox vaccination campaign to begin in Congo
A vaccination campaign against Mpox will commence in Congo on October 2, with workers focusing primarily on the three most affected districts. Adults in Equateur, South Kivu, and Sankuru provinces would be the first to receive vaccinations, according to Cris Kacita Osako, coordinator of Congo's Monkeypox Response Committee. The WHO has reported a rapid increase in cases due to Clade 1b but noted that "relatively few deaths have been reported."
