The Pinarayi Vijayan government in Kerala, India, has announced the release of revised guidelines for the prevention and treatment of Mpox following the state’s first confirmed case of the new strain of the disease. This news comes after a 38-year-old man from Malappuram, who recently returned from the United Arab Emirates, tested positive for the Clade 1b strain of Mpox. The patient is currently in a stable condition.
Following this development, Kerala’s Health Minister Veena George, after a meeting with the Rapid Response Team to assess the situation, has directed authorities to take necessary actions in case of an increase in cases. “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,” George said in a statement.
The minister also emphasized that a revised set of guidelines for preventing and effectively treating Mpox will soon be released in the state. To ensure prompt response, she urged citizens returning from other countries who display symptoms to inform the health department and seek immediate treatment. The minister also directed authorities to notify the health department if they encounter any individuals exhibiting Mpox symptoms seeking medical attention at both government and private hospitals.
It is important to note that India has reported a total of 30 Mpox cases since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in 2022. The symptoms of Mpox typically appear 1 to 21 days after exposure and include rashes, fever, sore throat, headache, muscle ache, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes. These symptoms usually last 2–4 weeks but can be extended for individuals with weakened immune systems.
Transmission of Mpox can occur through direct contact with infectious skin or other lesions, such as those in the mouth or on genitals. The virus can also spread through contaminated objects like clothing or linens or in community settings like tattoo parlors. Animal to human transmission can occur from infected animals to humans through bites or scratches, during activities like hunting, skinning, trapping, cooking, playing with carcasses, or eating infected animals.
