First Case Of Monkeypox Confirmed In India: Ministry Of Health
New Delhi: The Ministry of Health on Monday, September 9 confirmed the man who recently travelled from an African country has Monkeypox (Mpox). His samples were sent for testing on Sunday. He is currently isolated at a designated tertiary care isolation facility. Without disclosing the identity of the infected man, the Ministry said that the patient remains clinically stable.
The Union Health Ministry on Sunday, 08 September 2024 said that a young male, who travelled to a country affected by Mpox, has been identified as a suspect case of the disease following which he was isolated in a designated hospital.
“Samples from the patient are being tested to confirm the presence of Mpox,” the ministry said.
“A young male patient, who recently travelled from a country currently experiencing Mpox (monkeypox) transmission, has been identified as a suspect case of Mpox. The patient has been isolated in a designated hospital and is currently stable. Samples from the patient are being tested to confirm the presence of Mpox. The development of this case is consistent with the earlier risk assessment conducted by the NCDC and there is no cause of any undue concern,” said a notification issued by the Union Health Ministry.
Earlier, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) had warned, “Young children are more prone to this disease due to which its symptoms will have to be monitored.”
How Does Monkeypox Spread
Mpox, also known as monkeypox, is spread primarily through close skin-to-skin contact with infected people or their soiled clothes or bedsheets. It often causes visible skin lesions that could make people less likely to be in close contact with others.
To stay safe, experts advise avoiding close physical contact with someone who has lesions resembling mpox, not sharing their utensils, clothing or bedsheets and maintaining good hygiene like regular hand-washing.
The transmission requires prolonged close contact with an infected case and is generally through the sexual route, direct contact with body/lesion fluid, or contaminated clothing/linen of an infected person.
