Other than this one case, authorities have confirmed that there are no other cases of Mpox caused by the Clade 1B strain
Mpox Case In India: After India confirmed its first case of the Mpox virus on a 26-year-old Haryana resident, there has been widespread worry about transmission of the deadly viral disease, which has killed over 1,000 people across the world.
Laboratory testing of the man, who returned to the country from abroad, has confirmed the presence of the Mpox virus of the West African Clade 2 in the patient. Last week, he was admitted to Delhi’s LNJP Hospital where he has been isolated and treated.
However, the health ministry says that Clade 2 is not part of the current public health emergency warning issued by the World Health Organisation last month. The 2022 epidemic was caused by Clade 2 which is still circulating in many countries, including in the West. On August 14, the WHO was prompted to declare its highest international alert level after the resurgence and detection of a new strain, dubbed Clade 1B in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Can isolated cases cause risk to the public?
Other than this one case, authorities have confirmed that there are no other cases of Mpox caused by the Clade 1B strain, which spreads mainly through sexual networks and person-to-person contact. It is prevalent in countries neighboring the DR Congo, including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.
Doctors say Clade 1B typically starts with flu-like symptoms, such as fever, headache, muscle aches, and tiredness. It then results in pus-filled lesions.
According to experts, Mpox is less likely to be a crisis in India. While the country has reported at least 30 cases and one death due to the infection since it was first detected in 2022, this is the first suspected case in the current outbreak.
How does Mpox spread?
According to the WHO guidelines, Mpox spreads through close contact with someone who has the disease, including:
Skin-to-skin contact
If there is direct contact with the rash, sores, or scabs of someone who has Mpox, you are likely to contract the virus.
Sharing objects
Establishing contact with objects, fabrics, or surfaces that have been used by someone with the infection like clothing, bedding, towels, cups, or utensils can be dangerous
Respiratory droplets
Being around someone with Mpox if they cough or sneeze near you
Animal contact
Physical contact with an animal that carries the virus, such as some species of monkeys or tree squirrels
However, according to doctors, a person with Mpox is no longer contagious once all scabs fall off and a fresh layer of skin forms, which can take up to four to five weeks.
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