A new, more lethal strain of Mpox has been detected in Africa, surpassing the virulence of the strain identified in 2022. This variant is also capable of spreading through sexual contact. In response, India’s health ministry is preparing an updated advisory and guidelines following the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recent declaration of Mpox as a global emergency.
Drawing on recommendations from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the updated advisory will cover several key areas: identifying sick patients at ports of entry, isolating suspected and confirmed cases, conducting lab tests, recognizing symptoms, implementing preventive measures, reporting cases to hospitals, establishing surveillance strategies, raising community awareness, and enforcing hospital infection control measures. According to an informed official, the ministry plans to release these guidelines to the public soon.
The new Mpox strain, identified in Africa, has shown to be deadlier than the previous one, contributing to an increase in fatalities. From January 1, 2022, to June 30, 2024, WHO reported 99,176 laboratory-confirmed cases and 208 deaths across 116 countries. Notably, the virus has become more lethal, with 537 deaths reported among 15,600 cases since last year.
“It is crucial to educate the public on the common symptoms and encourage prompt reporting to healthcare providers,” the official emphasized. “Given the risk of the virus entering India through international travel, stringent surveillance at ports is essential.”
Mpox, formerly known as Monkeypox, was first identified in humans in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo but was largely overlooked until it caused a global outbreak in 2022. The recent surge in Africa, coupled with the emergence of a sexually transmissible strain, poses a significant threat not just to Africa, but to the entire world.
The virus spreads through prolonged close contact, including sexual contact, with an infected individual. It can be transmitted via body fluids, lesion fluids, contaminated clothing or linens, and occasionally through objects and surfaces touched by an infected person. Infections typically last between two and four weeks, with most patients recovering with supportive medical care.
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