Breaking News: India on High Alert as First Case of Potent New Mpox Clade 1b Variant Detected in Kerala

Guwahati Reports First Case of New Clade 1b Mpox Strain in India

India has identified its first case of the newly emerging Clade 1b strain of Mpox, with the patient hailing from Malappuram, Kerala. The individual had recently returned from the United Arab Emirates and tested positive last week, according to officials.

This development follows the detection earlier this month of a 26-year-old man in Hisar, Haryana, who was found to have the West African Clade 2 strain of the Mpox virus.

Since the first Mpox infection was recorded in India in 2022, the country has reported at least 32 cases, including one fatality. The emergence of Clade 1b is particularly alarming as it is considered a more virulent strain. Originating from Congo and neighboring regions previously free of such infections, Clade 1b is now also transmitting via sexual contact, a mode not seen in earlier Clade 1 cases.

Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is a self-limiting viral ailment caused by the Mpox virus (MPXV). Common symptoms include high-grade fever, headache, muscle ache, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes, alongside rash-like lesions that can persist for two to three weeks. Although the disease is usually self-limiting, it can be fatal, particularly impacting children and other vulnerable populations.

As Clade 1b poses a heightened risk and expands its transmission pathways, health officials and the public are urged to remain vigilant.

Original Story https://www.guwahatiplus.com/india/india-reports-first-case-of-new-mpox-clade-1b-variant-in-kerala
Category : India
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