This year till date India has reported three Mpox cases with two from Kerala who have been infected with the fast spreading Clade One B variant, all the three had traveled abroad.

The first case that the country reported was of a 26-year-old resident of Haryana’s Hisar, who had tested positive last month for the West African Clade 2 strain, similar to the earlier 30 cases reported in India from July 2022 onwards. He was admitted to a government hospital in Delhi and later discharged after being fully recovered.

However, the two cases reported from the Southern State have been found to be infected with the fast spreading virus that led the WHO to issue an advisory about the public emergency about the outbreak of the pathogen.

The youth diagnosed with Mpox (Clade One B) in Ernakulam, Kerala, is reported to be in satisfactory condition while receiving treatment at a private hospital in Kochi, said the health official from the State Government.

He exhibited symptoms after returning from the UAE and tested positive following an examination at Kochi airport. This marks the second Mpox case in Kerala; the first involved a 38-year-old resident of Malappuram who had tested positive for Mpox. Tests revealed that he was infected with the Clade One B variant. Both cases highlight the importance of monitoring and swift testing for travellers showing symptoms like Mpox.

In response to these cases, health authorities stress the importance of monitoring symptoms and encourage anyone feeling unwell after travel to seek medical attention.

The World Health Organization has declared Mpox a public health emergency in Africa, with symptoms including fever, headache, sore throat, and muscle aches.

To enhance awareness, health camps have been set up at airports, and isolation facilities are established in 14 districts across the state,  Kerala’s Health Minister Veena George told reporters in the State.

She confirmed that a contact list for the latest patient has been created and that preventive measures are in place.

Since Mpox was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the WHO in 2022, India has reported a total of 30 cases.

In view of the present situation, health authorities are emphasising on vigilance in monitoring symptoms and encouraging anyone feeling unwell after recent travel to seek immediate medical attention.