Mpox cases in India: Should Indians be worried? Can an isolated case pose a risk to the population?

Mpox case in India: After India confirmed its first case of the Mpox virus in a 26-year-old Haryana resident, there has been widespread concern over the transmission of the deadly viral disease, which has killed more than 1,000 people worldwide.

Laboratory tests conducted on the man, who returned to the country from abroad, confirmed the presence of the West African group 2 Mpox virus in the patient. Last week, he was admitted to LNJP Hospital in Delhi, where he was isolated and treated.

However, the Ministry of Health says Clade 2 is not part of the current public health emergency warning issued by the World Health Organization 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 forced to declare its highest international alert level following the resurgence and detection of a new strain, dubbed Clade 1B, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Can isolated cases pose a risk to the population?

Apart from this 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 common in neighbouring countries of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda.

Doctors say clade 1B typically begins with flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle aches and fatigue. It then gives rise to pus-filled lesions.

According to experts, Mpox is less likely to become 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 WHO guidelines, Mpox is transmitted through close contact with someone who has the disease, including:

Skin to skin contact

If you come into direct contact with the rash, sores, or scabs of someone who has Mpox, you are likely to contract the virus.

Sharing objects

Coming into contact with objects, fabrics, or surfaces that have been used by someone with the infection, such as clothing, bedding, towels, cups, or utensils, can be dangerous.

Respiratory droplets

Being near someone with Mpox if they cough or sneeze near you

Contact with animals

Physical contact with an animal carrying 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 the scabs fall off and a new layer of skin forms, which can take up to four or five weeks.