Kerala confirms second Mpox case in a week; state ramps up health precautions

The Indian state of Kerala has reported a second case of Mpox after a man who returned from the UAE tested positive for the disease, which is caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV). The man is currently hospitalised in Ernakulam, and officials from the health department, on Friday (Sep 27) saidthat his condition is stable.

Just last week, Kerala recorded its first Mpox case when a 38-year-old man from Malappuram, also returning from the UAE, was diagnosed with the infection.

The man was later confirmed to have been infected by the clade 1b strain, known for its higher virulence leading to more severe symptoms and complications. This marks the first case of this specific strainin the country, the same one that prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare Mpox a ‘Public Health Emergency of International Concern.’

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Earlier, the State Health Minister Veena George urged people returning to Kerala from other countries to seek medical help if they experience any symptoms of Mpox. The health department has prepared isolation wards in 14 hospitals across Kerala as a precaution, should the situation worsen.

Mpox, previouslyreferred to as monkeypox, is a viral disease caused by the monkeypox virus, which belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus. The virus has two major clades: clade I, which is divided into subclades Ia and Ib, and clade II, which includes subclades IIa and IIb.

(With inputs from agencies)