India has reported a suspected case of mpox in a man who recently traveled from a country experiencing an outbreak of the virus, according to the health ministry on Sunday. The patient has been placed in isolation at a hospital and is in stable condition.
While the ministry did not specify which strain of the mpox virus is involved, tests are currently underway to confirm the infection. Mpox is primarily spread through close contact and typically presents with mild symptoms; however, it can be fatal in rare instances, causing flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions on the body.
“The case is being managed in accordance with established protocols, and contact tracing is ongoing to identify potential sources and assess the impact within the country,” the ministry stated.
Reports from last month indicated that India had heightened its alert due to a new strain of mpox that has become more virulent in Africa. The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern following the identification of this new variant.
