Kerala confirms another Mpox case: Health authorities on high alert

Kerala has reported another Mpox case after a young man from the UAE tested positive. The patient, a native of Ernakulam, is currently receiving treatment at a private hospital in the district and is reportedly in stable condition, according to health department officials.

The first case in the state involved a 38-year-old man from Malappuram who had also returned from the UAE. He tested positive for the Clade 1B variant, the first recorded case of this clade in India. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Mpox a ‘Public Health Emergency of International Concern,’ highlighting the risks associated with this variant.

State Health Minister Veena George has urged international travelers returning to Kerala to immediately seek medical attention if they exhibit symptoms of Mpox. In response to the rising cases, the health department has set up isolation wards in all 14 districts and medical college hospitals across the state to manage any potential surge.

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral zoonotic disease caused by the Mpox virus. It typically presents with a fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes and can spread from animals to humans or through direct human-to-human contact. The WHO renamed the disease to avoid stigma and misleading associations