A total of 32,407 cases of monkeypox, including 6,441 confirmed cases and 840 deaths, have been reported across the African continent since the start of this year, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
M pox is a viral disease primarily found in monkeys and other wild animals, though it can occasionally spread to humans. Human transmission typically occurs accidentally, usually through direct contact with an infected animal. The disease is caused by the monkeypox virus, which is part of the same family of viruses as smallpox, but generally results in a milder infection.
A 38-year-old youth from Edavanna in Kerala’s Malappuram district, who showed symptoms of Mpox, has been put under observation at the Manjeri Medical College hospital.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said that laboratory testing has confirmed the presence of the Mpox virus of the West African ‘clade 2’ in the patient.
The Central government on Monday issued an advisory to the States and Union Territories (UTs) over the Mpox (monkeypox), calling upon for the screening and testing of all the suspect cases of the viral disease.
The WHO Regional Office for Europe has launched a new campaign called "Eliminating mpox: Placing affected populations at the heart of our response" to highlight the potential risk of a significant monkeypox (mpox) outbreak.
Delhi confirmed its first case of monkeypox on July 24 this year, a day after it was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organisation.
Monkeypox virus usually spreads through close contact with an infected person like a parent hugging/kissing their child.
All government-run hospitals had made arrangements of isolation wards during the Covid-19 pandemic.
On Monday, a 35-year-old Nigerian man living in Delhi, with no recent international travel history, tested positive for monkeypox.
