Kerala Government to Issue Revised Guidelines to Prevent Mpox Spread in the State

A 38-year-old man from Malappuram, Kerala, has been identified as the first person in India to be infected with the Clade 1b strain of the mpox virus, according to official government sources cited by an IE report. This strain is currently driving the global outbreak. The man, who recently returned from Dubai, tested positive on September 18 and is now receiving treatment at Manjeri Medical College Hospital.

Health officials have remained tight-lipped about the test results, with a formal statement from Health Minister Veena George anticipated Tuesday. The Clade 1b strain is known to be more contagious than Clade 2, raising concerns about the potential spread of the virus in Kerala.

Minister George held a meeting with the state’s Rapid Response Team (RRT) to evaluate the situation. "We will issue updated guidelines for the prevention and treatment of mpox in the state. Isolation facilities are prepared in all districts, and surveillance has been increased, particularly at airports," the minister stated.

The patient initially sought medical attention due to a high fever and visible blisters, prompting testing and diagnosis. His samples were sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune for genomic sequencing, which confirmed the presence of the Clade 1b strain.

To prevent the spread of the virus, individuals who had close contact with the patient have been placed in isolation, and additional testing centres may be established. The minister urged travellers exhibiting symptoms to promptly report to the Health Department.

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral illness that can lead to fever, rashes, and blisters. Kerala’s health authorities are on high alert and are implementing proactive measures to avert a wider outbreak.