India confirms 'isolated' mpox case, Health Ministry says there is no 'widespread risk to public' at this time
The Indian government on Monday registered its first 'travel-related' mpox case in a patient who tested positive for the strain currently circulating in Western Africa.
In a statement, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said: "The previously suspected case of Mpox (monkeypox) has been verified as a travel-related infection. Laboratory testing has confirmed the presence of Mpox virus of the West African clade 2 in the patient. "
The Ministry described the case as 'isolated'.
"This case is an isolated case, similar to the earlier 30 cases reported in India from July 2022 onwards, and is not a part of the current public health emergency (reported by WHO) which is regarding clade 1 of mpox," the statement said.
The individual, a young male who recently traveled from a country experiencing ongoing Mpox transmission, is currently isolated at a designated tertiary care isolation facility, the Ministry said.
The Ministry said the patient remains clinically stable and is without any systemic illness or comorbidities.
"The case aligns with earlier risk assessments and continues to be managed according to established protocols. Public health measures, including contact tracing and monitoring, are actively in place to ensure the situation is contained," the statement said.
The Ministry confirmed that there is no indication of any widespread risk to the public at this time.