India reports 3rd case of mpox

NEW DELHI, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) — One more case of monkeypox (mpox) was detected Friday in India, taking the tally to three in the country.
According to state-run broadcaster All India Radio (AIR), a 38-year-old man has been confirmed to be infected with the mpox virus in Kerala, the second case in the state so far.
“Sources said the man, who returned to Kochi from abroad, has been admitted to a private hospital for treatment. Tests of his body fluids confirmed the case to be positive,” AIR said.
Kerala local health minister Veena George Friday convened a high-level meeting in Thiruvananthapuram to take stock of the situation. The health department has prepared a contact list of the infected person and strengthened preventive measures. She said those with symptoms should ensure the virus is not spread to others.
“Those coming from foreign countries should seek treatment and inform the health department if they develop any symptoms,” George said.
On Monday, mpox clade 1b strain was detected in a 38-year-old man from Malappuram district of Kerala.
The earlier case of mpox that emerged in Delhi was of a 26-year-old resident of Haryana’s Hisar who had tested positive for the West African clade 2 strain.
India’s federal health ministry on Thursday asked all states to identify facilities and trained human resources for taking care of both suspected and confirmed mpox cases.
Monkeypox is a zoonotic disease that presents symptoms including fever, an extensive characteristic rash and usually swollen lymph nodes.
The World Health Organization declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern in August.
Since 2022, at least 30 cases and one death due to mpox have been reported in India. ■