India has reported its first case of the more severe Clade Ib strain of mpox, raising global concerns due to the strain’s rapid spread. The case was detected in a 38-year-old man in Kerala who had traveled from Dubai.

Mpox is caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV), a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus, said Dr Jha. “Clade 1b refers to a genetic variant within the Central African (Congo Basin) clade, which is typically associated with more severe symptoms than the West African clade,” said Dr Jha.

The Pinarayi Vijayan government in Kerala said it will release revised guidelines for the prevention and treatment of Mpox after the state reported the first confirmed case of the new strain Clade 1b

Although the minister, in her statement, did not mention that the first confirmed case of the Mpox strain in India was found in a patient from Kerala, she announced that revised guidelines for the prevention and effective treatment of Mpox would soon be released in the state.

India confirms the first case of mpox virus pertaining to the new Clade 1B variant which has been termed far more deadlier than Clade 1 infections.

The Mpox case recorded in Kerala last week has been confirmed to be from the fast-spreading clade 1 variant of the infection, reported Reuters on Monday, quoting health ministry spokesperson Manisha Verma. This is India’s first case of the Clade 1 variant of Mpox.

India on Monday reported the first case of Mpox Clade 1 strain in Kerala. This is the same strain the prompted WHO to declare mpox as a public health emergency. Reports suggest that nearly 30,000 suspected mpox cases have been reported in Africa so far this year.

Clade I and Clade II. Experts identify Clade I as the more deadly and virulent variant, while Clade II is linked to the global outbreak of 2022, Dr. Tayal explained.