Mpox Clade 1B strain in India: Kerala to issue revised guidelines
Kerala: The Kerala health department has announced that it will release revised guidelines for the prevention and treatment of Mpox following the state's first confirmed case of a new strain reported on Monday. The State Level Rapid Response Team (RRT) convened to evaluate the situation and coordinate responses.
After the meeting, state Health Minister Veena George said instructions have been given to take necessary action if the number of cases increases.
According to the PTI report, she said in a statement, "Isolation facilities have been set up in all districts, and monitoring has been strengthened, including at airports. Currently, testing facilities have been arranged in five laboratories. If required, testing facilities will be expanded to more labs."
She said those arriving from other countries who show symptoms should inform the health department and seek treatment.
Also Read:Second Mpox case in India: Kerala man diagnosed after returning from UAE
The minister also instructed that if anyone with Mpox symptoms comes to government or private hospitals, the health department should be informed.
Earlier, official sources in New Delhi said India had reported the first case of the Mpox strain in a patient from Kerala who tested positive last week.
They said the Clade 1b strain was detected in a 38-year-old man from Malappuram district who had recently returned from the United Arab Emirates.
The patient is stable, the sources said, adding, "This was the first case of the current strain that led the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare Mpox a public health emergency last month for a second time", news agency PTI reported.
The earlier case of Mpox that emerged in the national capital was a 26-year-old resident of Haryana's Hisar who tested positive for the previous West African Clade 2 strain earlier this month.
Since the WHO's 2022 declaration of Mpox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, 30 cases have been reported in India.
Mpox infections are usually self-limiting, lasting between two and four weeks, with most patients recovering with supportive care. The disease spreads through prolonged close contact with an infected individual and typically presents with fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes, potentially leading to various medical complications.
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