India has reported its first confirmed case of mpox virus in a 26-year-old man who recently returned from abroad. The patient is currently stable and the case is being managed according to established protocols. While the strain detected is not the current cause of global concern, the situation is being closely monitored.
A roundup of the most important news stories from around the world, including a suspected monkeypox case in India, political developments in Haryana and Manipur, a busy week for the IPO market, and the UAE Crown Prince’s visit to India.
India has reported its first suspected case of Monkeypox in a young male who recently travelled from a country experiencing active transmission. The patient is isolated and stable, and samples are being tested to confirm the diagnosis. The government assures the public there is no cause for undue concern.
Pakistan has reported its fifth mpox case, with Peshawar emerging as an epicenter for the virus. The recent case involves a traveler returning from the Gulf, raising concerns about the spread from West Asia. Authorities are implementing stringent screening measures at airports and coordinating closely to contain the outbreak.
Indonesia has implemented a mandatory health declaration form, the SATUSEHAT Health Pass, for all travelers entering the country, in response to growing concerns about the spread of Mpox. This comes as Australian health authorities urge vigilance and vaccination due to new Mpox cases and a mutated virus strain declared a health emergency by the WHO.
UTime Ltd’s stock (WTO) experienced wild swings this week, plummeting 93% on Wednesday after announcing a lab acquisition related to a monkeypox vaccine. The company then rebounded 48% on Thursday, assuring investors its operations remain unchanged. While UTime’s stock remains volatile, the potential for its monkeypox vaccine could drive future growth.
Virax Biolabs Group Limited has secured distribution rights for Mpox virus detection kits in Europe and the Gulf region. The kits, approved for sale in Europe and authorized by the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, offer high sensitivity and specificity, delivering results in under 70 minutes.
A new, more transmissible strain of mpox, dubbed ‘clade Ib’, has emerged in the Democratic Republic of Congo and is spreading through heterosexual contact, raising concerns about a potential global health crisis. The strain is causing higher fatality rates, particularly in children, and exhibiting unusual transmission patterns, including household and school outbreaks. With the dry season facilitating increased migration, experts fear the virus could spread to neighboring countries and beyond through close contact at international airports. Urgent action is needed to contain the outbreak, including increased surveillance, contact tracing, and potential vaccination efforts.
Applied DNA Sciences (APDN) saw its stock price surge on Friday after submitting a validation package to the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) for its Linea Mpox Virus 1.0 Assay. The company seeks to expand the assay’s use to detect both clade I and clade II of the mpox virus, potentially increasing its testing capabilities and revenue.
Singapore has implemented enhanced screening measures at its major airports and seaports in response to the detection of a potentially more severe Mpox variant in Sweden and Thailand. These measures include temperature checks, visual inspections, and health advisories to prevent the importation and spread of the virus.
