First case of MPOX confirmed in India: 'no immediate danger to citizens': central government

Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of Mpox virus of the West African lineage 2 in the patient. Representative file image. Photo credit: Reuters

Previous Suspected cases of Mpox The Ministry of Health confirmed on Monday (9/9/2024) that (monkeypox) has been confirmed as a travel-associated infectious disease.

“Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of Mpox virus of West African lineage 2 in the patient. This case, like the previous 30 cases reported in India since July 2022, is an isolated case and is not part of the current public health emergency (reported by WHO) regarding Mpox lineage 1,” the ministry added.

The individual is a young male who recently travelled from a country with ongoing Mpox transmission and is currently in isolation at a designated tertiary care isolation facility. The ministry said the patient is clinically stable with no systemic or comorbid conditions and that the case is consistent with previous risk assessments and continues to be managed in accordance with established protocols.

Public health measures, including contact tracing and surveillance, are being actively implemented to ensure the situation is contained. There is currently no indication of widespread risk to the general public, the Ministry of Health said.

Transmission

Most cases in the current outbreak of Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) have occurred in young men with a mean age of 34 years (range 18-44 years), and the most common method of reported transmission worldwide is sexual contact, followed by non-sexual person-to-person contact. Among cases with at least one reported symptom, the most common symptom is a rash (including a generalized or genital rash), followed by fever.

The Ministry of Health said that about half (51.9%) of the cases where information on HIV status was available were reported as HIV positive, and that this information was shared with the World Health Organization on current trends in the epidemic.

Following the suspected cases under investigation in India, the Ministry has written to all states and union territories instructing them to inform healthcare workers, particularly those working in Dermatology/STD Clinics/NACO Clinics, about the common signs and symptoms, differential diagnosis and steps to be taken after case detection (such as isolation, clinical management of the case and treatment of complications) while following proper protocols.

Also read | The central government has advised state governments to screen and test all suspected cases of MPOX.

“WHO has announced that the current Mpox outbreak is a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). This is the second Mpox outbreak linked to a PHEIC declared by WHO under the International Health Regulations, 2005, to which India is also a signatory. As WHO highlighted, the decision was taken in light of the continued upward trend of Mpox cases especially in the Democratic Republic of Congo since the last six months, the spread of cases to new East African countries/territories (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda) which reported their first Mpox cases, and the emergence of a new lineage (variant) of the Mpox virus (lineage Ib) and its spread to several neighbouring countries,” Health Minister Apurva Chandra said in a statement.

Medium risk

He further said that according to its latest situation report, the WHO has emphasised that there is a medium risk of the current outbreak spreading beyond Africa.

“The Ministry of Health continues to closely monitor the evolving situation. The disease surveillance network under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme continues to monitor for clustering of cases. Health authorities at points of entry (airports) have been directed to intensify health screening of entrants to detect suspected cases. The laboratory network under the Indian Council of Medical Research has also been strengthened to test samples of suspected cases. Further, considering the epidemiology of the disease, State AIDS Control Societies have been asked to remain vigilant to create community awareness on the issue to pick up suspected cases and facilitate timely reporting of cases,” the health ministry said.

The ministry directed screening and testing of all suspected cases in the community through hospital-based surveillance, targeted surveillance or intervention sites designated by NACO for Female Sexual Workers (FSWs) and Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM).

Health facilities have been instructed to provide focused and clear risk communication to health workers manning specific locations within the health facilities (e.g., dermatology, paediatric outpatients, immunisation clinics and NACO-designated intervention sites) and the local community on simple prevention strategies and the need for prompt reporting of cases.

“All states are urged to undertake appropriate activities to raise awareness among communities about the disease, its modes of transmission, the need for timely reporting and preventive measures, but it is crucial to avoid creating undue panic among the general public,” the ministry added.