Tue Sep 24 15:18:27 UTC 2024: ## India Reports First Imported Case of Novel Mpox Clade 1b
**New Delhi, India** – India has become the third country outside of Africa to report a case of the novel Mpox Clade 1b, according to official sources. The patient, a 38-year-old man from Kerala, had recently traveled from the United Arab Emirates.
The patient is currently hospitalized at a government medical college hospital in Kerala. Health officials have been monitoring 27 close contacts and 37 airline passengers, but no related infections have been detected so far.
Clade 1b was first detected in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) earlier this year and has since spread to four other African countries. In August, the first cases outside of Africa were reported in Sweden and Thailand.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued an updated health alert, warning healthcare providers about the growing prevalence of Clade 1b infections. The CDC recommends vaccination with two doses of Jynneos vaccine for those anticipating sexual activity during travel to the DRC or other countries with sustained Clade 1 activity.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has also expressed concern about the spread of Clade 1b, citing a high risk to the eastern DRC and neighboring countries. The WHO reported rising trends for Europe and the Western Pacific regions, while cases in the Americas are declining.
This latest development highlights the ongoing global spread of Mpox and underscores the importance of continued surveillance and preventative measures, including vaccination and awareness of travel-related risks.
First Piper 