A confirmed case of Mpox has been reported in a 38-year-old man from Kerala’s Malappuram district, health officials announced on Wednesday (September 18). 

The patient, who recently returned from Dubai, exhibited symptoms of the disease and was admitted to the Government Medical College Hospital in Malappuram.

According to Mathrubhumi, the man developed skin rashes after arriving from the UAE and sought medical attention from a dermatologist.
 
He was immediately isolated after showing initial symptoms, including rashes and fever. His samples were sent for testing, which confirmed the Mpox infection.

Kerala Health Minister Veena George stated on Tuesday that the patient had been isolated at home upon his return and had taken precautionary measures.

The latest infection marks the second confirmed case of Mpox in India. Earlier this month, on September 9, the health ministry reported a suspected Mpox case in a man who had traveled abroad.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently declared the current Mpox outbreak a ‘public health emergency of international concern’ (PHEIC), the highest level of alert. However, this is not classified as a ‘pandemic.’ 

Large-scale outbreaks remain primarily confined to African nations such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, and Nigeria, with only a few cases reported in other countries since the PHEIC declaration.

In India, the government has assessed the overall risk as low, anticipating only a few imported cases. According to the WHO, Mpox primarily spreads through close contact with an infected person, including skin-to-skin contact.

Those at higher risk include individuals with multiple sexual partners, especially men who have sex with men. Transmission can also occur through contaminated objects like clothing, utensils, or needles.

As of August 2024, the ongoing outbreak is attributed to clade 1b of the Mpox virus.