First suspected Mpox case detected in India

India on Sunday reported the first suspected Mpox case in a young male patient. However, the Health Ministry did not clarify which city the case was reported from.

No cause for concern

There is no cause for concern. The country is fully prepared to deal with such isolated travel-related cases and has robust measures in place to manage and mitigate any potential risk. Health Ministry

“A young male patient, who recently travelled from a country currently experiencing monkeypox transmission, has been identified as a suspect case of Mpox. The patient has been isolated in a designated hospital and is currently stable,” the health ministry said.

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 development of this case is consistent with the earlier risk assessment conducted by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). There is no cause for concern. The country is fully prepared to deal with such isolated travel-related cases and has robust measures in place to manage and mitigate any potential risk,” the Health Ministry said.

Last month, the All-India Institute for Medical Sciences (AIIMS) had issued a protocol for handling suspected Mpox cases in India.

“For handling suspected Mpox cases in the Emergency Department, AIIMS has recommended setting up a screening process in the triage area wherein, upon arrival, patients with fever, rash, or a history of contact with confirmed Mpox cases should be flagged for immediate assessment,” AIIMS had said.

“Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital has been designated for managing and treating Mpox patients. So, any suspected Mpox patient should be referred to Safdarjung Hospital for further evaluation and treatment,” AIIMS said.

The Health Ministry had earlier said the transmission of infection requires prolonged close contact with an infected person and is generally through the sexual route, direct contact with body/lesion fluid, or the contaminated clothing/linen of an infected person.