India’s health ministry has confirmed an isolated case of mpox, clarifying that it is not related to the new Clade 1b strain driving the global health emergency. The announcement follows the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recent declaration of a global health alert on August 14, after the discovery of Clade 1b in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The case in India involves a young male who recently returned from a country experiencing ongoing mpox transmission. Initially reported as a suspected case, the health ministry later verified that the patient was infected with the Clade 2 strain, which is common in West Africa. The ministry emphasized that the case is isolated and unrelated to the current outbreak of Clade 1b.
“Laboratory testing has confirmed the presence of the mpox virus of the West African Clade 2 in the patient,” the health ministry stated. “This case is an isolated case… and is not a part of the current public health emergency (reported by WHO) which is regarding Clade 1 of mpox.”
While public health measures, including contact tracing and monitoring, are in place to manage the situation, the ministry assured the public that there is no indication of widespread risk. The patient remains in isolation at a designated care facility, and no additional cases have been detected.
India, a nation of 1.4 billion people, has not reported any mpox cases related to the Clade 1b strain, which was first detected in eastern DRC in September 2023. The Clade 1b strain has since spread to nearby countries like Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, as well as some parts of Asia and Europe.
The ministry continues to monitor the situation closely, working to prevent any further spread while maintaining strict public health protocols. For now, India remains vigilant but assured, with no immediate cause for public concern.
