India has reported a suspected case of Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, involving a young male patient who recently returned from a country experiencing ongoing Mpox transmission.
According to the Union Health Ministry, the patient is currently in isolation at a designated hospital and his condition is reported to be stable.
The Ministry of Health has confirmed that samples from the patient are being tested to determine whether he has contracted Mpox.
"Samples from the patient are being tested to confirm the presence of Mpox. The case is being managed in line with established protocols, and contact tracing is ongoing to identify potential sources and assess the impact within the country,” a ministry statement read.
The government has reassured the public that the situation is under control, emphasising that this isolated case is consistent with risk assessments previously conducted by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
"There is no cause of any undue concern,” the ministry added. “The country is fully prepared to deal with such isolated travel-related cases and has robust measures in place to manage and mitigate any potential risk.”
This suspected Mpox case emerges three weeks after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreaks in 12 African countries a global emergency.
In response, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the WHO have launched a continent-wide response plan. The six-month plan, with a budget of approximately $600 million, will focus on enhancing surveillance, laboratory testing, and community engagement, according to Dr. Jean Kaseya, Africa CDC director-general.
On Thursday, Congo received its first batch of 100,000 doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine, donated by the European Union through HERA, the EU’s health emergency agency.
Despite this critical support, Congo needs 3 million vaccines to effectively combat the outbreak, which remains the epicentre of the global health crisis.
The vaccine rollout will initially target adults in close contact with infected individuals and sex workers, with a start date yet to be confirmed.
The European Medicines Agency is also evaluating the vaccine for potential use in children aged 12 to 17, with a decision anticipated by the end of the month.
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