New Delhi, Sep 26 (Bureau) As India reported the first case of the Clade I variant of Mpox (Monkeypox), the government on Thursday advised all the States and Union Territories to undertake key public health actions to prevent and minimize the risk of further spread of Mpox in the country. In an order, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said, “The previous Mpox outbreak that started in 2022 was caused by Mpox virus clade lI. The 2024 PHEIC is related to Mpox virus clade I which is more virulent and more transmissible than Mpox clade II. This clade has been found outside Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) only during the current outbreak.” “Outside Africa, one case each of Mpox clade Ib has been recently reported from Sweden and Thailand. India is thus the third non-African country to report a case of clade Ib Mpox infection recently,” the Ministry added.
As per available information, clinical presentation of Mpox clade I in adults remains similar to clade lI. However, rate of complications may be higher in clade I than with clade Il infections. The Ministry further urged all the States/UTs to undertake appropriate activities to make communities aware about the disease, its modes of spread, need/importance of timely reporting and preventive measures. It emphasised that any panic amongst the masses must be prevented. “Review of public health preparedness particularly at health facility level at the State and Districts by senior officials,” it suggested. The government also asked them to identify isolation facilities in hospitals for managing both suspected and confirmed cases, ensuring the availability of required logistics and trained human resources in such facilities, along with an augmentation plan.
“All suspected Mpox cases should be isolated and strict infection prevention and control measures should be put in place. Treatment is symptomatic and available treatment guidelines should be followed,” the Ministry said. “Samples from skin lesions of any patient with suspected symptoms of Mpox should be sent to the designated labs immediately, and for those that test positive a sample should be sent to ICMR-NIV for genome sequencing to determine the clade,” the statement added. The Minsitry further noted that robust diagnostic testing capability is already available; 36 labs supported by ICMR across the country and three commercial PCR kits validated by ICMR that are now approved by CDSCO. According to Health Ministry sources, the first case of the Clade I variant of Mpox was confirmed on Monday in a 38-year-old man who arrived in Kerala last week from the UAE. He was admitted to the government medical college hospital in Manjeri, Malappuram, after developing symptoms of the disease.