The Union Health Ministry on Monday said that the disease has been confirmed in a person who recently travelled from a country with an ampox infection. The ministry said, “The first suspected case of ampox has been confirmed as a travel-related infection. Lab tests have confirmed the presence of the West African Clade-2 ampox virus in the patient.”
The ministry said that this is a separate case like the earlier 30 cases reported in India since July 2022. It is not part of the current public health emergency situation reported by WHO. The ministry said that the infected person is a young man who has recently traveled from a country where cases of ampox have been reported. The patient is medically stable.
It said that the case is in line with the risk assessment done earlier and is being managed as per established protocols. It also said that public health measures, including contact tracing and surveillance, are being actively implemented to keep the situation under control.
There is no major risk from Ampox
The health ministry said: “At this time, there is no indication of any significant risk to the public.” The World Health Organisation (WHO) last month declared Mpox a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) for the second time, as Mpox was reported spreading in several parts of Africa.
What is Mpox and where did the disease originate?
Ampox is a viral zoonotic disease that can spread between animals and humans. It begins with flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle aches and fatigue, followed by a rash that turns into blisters or sores.
Although it is similar to smallpox, ampox is usually less severe and has a lower mortality rate. It is found mainly in Africa, but outbreaks can occur elsewhere. Vaccination and isolation are important in the management and control of the disease.
Mumps is not a new disease and is not spread by monkeys. The first human case was reported in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The only reason it is linked to monkeys is that the disease was first identified in monkeys in the laboratory.
The global outbreak of clade II strains in 2022-23 marked the first instance of large community transmission of ampox outside Africa. However, most countries hardly took it seriously. It was only the presence of clade I and its rapid spread around the world that made it a cause for concern.
Which countries are affected by Mpox?
As of last month, suspected cases have been reported in 13 African countries.
This list includes countries like Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda.
What is the situation for Indian citizens?
The treatment of ampox remains largely symptomatic, but it should be done under medical supervision to avoid further complications. As of now, there is no reason to panic as Indians should remain cautious and this is certainly not the time to predict a new global pandemic.
How many vaccines are available for Mpox?
Currently, two vaccines (JYNNEOS and ACAM2000) are being used for ampox, which have been recommended by WHO experts. It has been approved by health authorities in several countries, including Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
JYNNEOS, made as the MVA-BN vaccine (Modified Vaccinia Ankara-Bavarian Nordic), is also sold under other names such as Imvamune and Imvanex. It is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
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