India reports first suspected case of Mpox

A young male patient who recently traveled from a country currently facing Mpox transmission has been identified as a suspected case, according to India's health ministry, reports economictimes.

The patient is isolated in a designated hospital and is currently in stable condition. Medical professionals are conducting tests to confirm the presence of the Mpox virus. The Union Health Ministry has reassured the public that there is no cause for undue concern.

The Health Ministry stated, "Samples from the patient are being tested to confirm the presence of Mpox. The case is being managed according to established protocols, and contact tracing is actively underway to identify potential sources and assess the impact within the country."

This development aligns with earlier risk assessments conducted by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and there is no cause for undue concern, the ministry assured.

Mpox is a viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus, a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus. It has been a concern due to recent global outbreaks, particularly the clade IIb strain identified in 2022.

The disease can spread between individuals primarily through close contact, although it can also spread from contaminated surfaces or objects. In some environments, the virus can transmit from infected wild animals to humans, particularly in areas where the virus circulates among wildlife species._Agencies.