India’s first case of monkeypox could be a risk of a major outbreak.

India's First Monkeypox Case Sparks Concerns Over Potential Outbreak

Written by: Supriya Kadu

Edited by: Omkar Devadkar

Last Updated: September 25, 2024

Summary: India reported its first case of monkeypox, triggering a public health emergency.

Last month only the World Health Organization (WHO) declared monkeypox a public health emergency, and now India detected its first case of monkeypox in 2024. Europe and Africa have the highest number of monkeypox cases. India is at a lower risk of the outbreak.

The last case of monkeypox was detected in Kerela, India, in March 2024. The outbreak started in 2022, and ever since India reported 30 confirmed cases of mpox.

An official source said to PTI, "At the moment, the risk of a surge in monkeypox infection is very low in India, and there is no need to panic."

As per the media reports, a 38-year-old Kerela man who came back from the UAE recently was detected with the mpox strain.

What is mpox?

Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is an infectious virus that can damage your skin and cause pain. It has different dangerous variants that are spread across countries like Africa, Thailand, Sweden, and Pakistan.

The Kerala man who was detected with the virus is being treated in a hospital. Each individual who came in contact with the person is being monitored by the authorities.

Earlier, a man from Haryana was detected with this virus and he was admitted for a few days in the hospital.

Mpox is spread from animal to human and can spread to any individual who gets in contact with the said person. It can spread through coming into contact with a person skin-to-skin, sexual intercourse, and talking or breathing next to this person.

The symptoms include body pain, fever, swelling in lymph nodes, and injuries all over the body.

The federal government issued an advisory to all states, asking them to be on the lookout for potential mpox cases.