New Mpox Stain Hits India: First Clade 1b Case Detected
On this Monday, India shared shocking news! It reported the very first case of the new Mpox variant 1b in the nation and South Asia. The news agency ANI cited that there was another case of clade 1, which is an older variant, last week in the Malappuram district of Kerala. The Health Ministry spokesperson confirmed this information. The deceased person is from Kerala.
The patient’s age is 38, and he has recently travelled from the United Arab Emirates, where he might have got the disease. Currently, he is admitted to a medical college hospital, Kerala authorities shared.
Dr Shubin C, the nodal officer of Malappuram, shared with Reuters that the patient’s 29 friends and family members, as well as 37 passengers on his flight, are under constant observation at home. However, they haven’t shown any signs of a new Mpox variant.
India has reported 30 cases of Mpox Clade 2 from 2022 to March this year and 2 cases earlier this month. It’s an older variant of the disease, and there is no need to worry! However, the new variant has caused concerns among authorities.
The news spread like wildfire, after which the federal authorities have issued an advisory warning all states to remain vigilant and prepared to address potential cases. WHO (World Health Organisation) was also requested to declare this outbreak a global health emergency.
Mpox spreads through close physical contact and has flu-like symptoms, such as fever, headache, muscle pain, etc. It generally stays mild but can even cause death, so people are advised to stay conscious and consult a doctor if they experience these symptoms.
