Case of ‘clade 2’ Mpox confirmed, not part of current WHO emergency: govt.

Sub: Sci

Sec: Health

Context:

The Union Health Ministry confirmed that a person had tested positive for Mpox caused by the clade 2 strain of the virus.

Cause for concern?

The ministry says it is a travel-related isolated case and not a part of the current public health emergency by WHO which is regarding clade 1 of Mpox.
There is no indication of any widespread risk to the public at this time.
The disease surveillance network under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme continues to monitor for any clustering of cases.

About Mpox:

Mpox is a viral zoonotic disease caused by the mpox virus (formerly monkeypox virus).
It primarily occurs in tropical rainforest areas of Central and West Africa but has seen outbreaks globally.

Two types of the mpox virus:

Clade I:
- It originated in Central Africa and is responsible for the current outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo.
- Clade I is known for its higher virulence and mortality rates compared to Clade II.
Clade II:
- It originated in West Africa.
- Infections from clade II mpox are generally less severe.

Transmission:

Human-to-human transmission occurs through direct contact with lesions, bodily fluids, or respiratory droplets and through indirect contact via contaminated items.
Animal-to-human transmission can occur through bites, scratches, or consumption of infected animals.

WHO Data:

According to WHO, most of the cases reported during this current outbreak of Mpox were among young males with a median age of 34 (range 18-44), with the most common mode of transmission reported globally being sexual contact, followed by person-to-person non-sexual contact.
Among cases in which at least one symptom is reported, the most common symptom is rash, followed by fever.
Around half (51.9%) of the cases with available information on their HIV status are reported to be in persons living with HIV.