A day after a 38-year-old man in Malappuram district was found to have Mpox, the state government has announced to conduct genome sequencing in order to identify the Mpox variant that the person was diagnosed with. State Health Minister Veena George on Thursday said, “Once the variant of the virus is identified, it will help in understanding its potential for spread and taking additional measures.”
The minister declared that the Mpox patient’s condition is satisfactory. “There are 23 people on the contact list of the patient. Those who were on the same flight as the patient have been identified, totaling 43 people,” she said.
The minister said that everyone who came into touch with the Mpox patient has been located, reassuring everyone that there is no reason to be concerned about the disease. The individual with Mpox had just returned from a trip to the United Arab Emirates on Air India Express flight from Dubai to Malappuram on September 13, as per the Kerala Health Department. He was admitted to this hospital with signs like monkeypox.
The minister further said that all actions taken in compliance with the existing disease prevention procedure had been completed. “There is less chance of the Mpox virus spreading with the 2B strain. However, there is a greater chance of the virus spreading if it is the 1B strain, one that is found in Africa,” George noted.
According to officials, the first case is not associated with the current outbreak since, according to genomic sequencing, it is a different strain of the virus from a different clade. After receiving supportive medical care and management, Mpox infections typically resolve on their own in two to four weeks. Long-term, close contact with an infected patient is how it is spread. It can cause a number of medical problems and usually presents with fever, rash and enlarged lymph nodes.
(with PTI inputs)