India has taken precautionary measures to prevent a widespread Mpox outbreak after reporting a case of the more transmissible clade 1b strain. The Union health secretary has directed states to enhance awareness, strengthen testing capabilities, and review public health preparedness.
India has reported its first case of Mpox Clade 1B, a more virulent strain, in a man who recently returned from the UAE. This raises concerns about the potential spread of this strain in India. Learn more about the differences between Clade 1B and other strains, and the steps India is taking to control the virus.
Pakistan has implemented new airport screening measures after a confirmed case of mpox was detected in the country. The case, the first of the year, sparked concern as the patient’s whereabouts remain unknown and authorities are struggling to trace contacts. The situation has led to heightened global vigilance with countries like China and the UK implementing their own screening protocols. The WHO has declared the current outbreak a global public health emergency due to the emergence of a more virulent clade 1b variant.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) advises travelers to regions of Africa affected by monkeypox to consider getting vaccinated due to a new, potentially more severe strain. While the WHO declared a global emergency, the ECDC assesses widespread transmission risk as low. The new Clade 1b strain has been linked to hundreds of deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo, highlighting its potential for rapid spread and increased severity.
