India Reports First Mpox Clade 1b Case in Kerala

India has confirmed its first case of Mpox clade 1b in Kerala's Malappuram. A 38-year-old man who traveled from the UAE was diagnosed. This strain has caused significant health concerns globally.

By Shalini Bharadwaj

India has reported its first case of Mpox clade 1b in Kerala's Malappuram. The patient, a 38-year-old man who recently traveled from the United Arab Emirates, exhibited symptoms triggering medical suspicion.

Authorities confirmed this case as the first of its kind in India. "India reports its first MPOX clade 1 case, traced back to Kerala's Malappuram last week. The patient is a 38-year-old man who traveled from the UAE; this strain prompted WHO to declare a public health emergency," officials stated.

The patient experienced fever and a chickenpox-like rash, leading to medical tests that confirmed the diagnosis. Previously, India reported an Mpox case in Delhi, identified as clade 2.

Mpox clade 1b, known to spread rapidly, is particularly concerning. The World Health Organization reports that it spreads mainly through sexual networks and poses significant public health risks, especially near the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, has historically been a health issue in parts of Africa but became a global concern in 2022.

Since January 1, 2022, Mpox cases have been reported to WHO from 121 member states across all six WHO regions. According to the WHO report dated September 3, 2024, 102,997 laboratory-confirmed cases and 186 probable cases, including 223 deaths, have been documented. In July 2024 alone, 1,425 cases and six deaths were reported globally, with the majority from Africa (55%), followed by Americas (24%) and Europe (11%), with the South-East Asia Region reporting 1% of total cases.

(With inputs from agencies.)