India Issues Advisory on Fast-Spreading Mpox Clade 1b Strain

The Indian government issued a new advisory urging states and union territories to take immediate measures in response to the first reported case of the virulent Mpox Clade 1b strain in the country. This action follows the World Health Organization‘s (WHO) declaration of a global public health emergency due to the strain, which is also known as Clade 1.

Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra released the advisory after a 38-year-old man in Kerala tested positive for Clade 1b, making India the third non-African country to record this strain, following Sweden and Thailand. The individual had recently returned from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The advisory mandates the isolation of suspected Mpox cases and emphasizes the importance of implementing strict infection prevention and control measures. States have been instructed to send samples from skin lesions of suspected patients to designated laboratories promptly. Those testing positive should have their samples further analyzed at the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Virology (ICMR-NIV) in Pune for genome sequencing to confirm the clade.

The advisory also highlighted current diagnostic capabilities, with 36 laboratories across India supported by the ICMR and three polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test kits approved by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) available for use.

States are directed to establish isolation units for both suspected and confirmed cases within hospitals, ensuring these facilities are equipped with the necessary logistics and trained personnel. Public awareness campaigns are also encouraged to educate communities about the disease, its transmission, and the importance of timely reporting and preventive actions.

Emphasizing preparedness, the advisory called for a review of public health measures, particularly at healthcare facilities and district levels, to prevent any panic among the populace. Previously, India reported two cases: a 26-year-old from Delhi with the Clade 2 strain and the recent case in Kerala linked to Clade 1b.

The advisory follows a similar directive earlier in the month, underscoring the continuous monitoring of the situation by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, which has pledged full support to states and union territories in managing the outbreak.