NEW DELHI, Sept 9 (Askume) – India said on Monday a case of MPO detected in a traveller the previous day was caused by an older strain of the virus and not the new, faster-spreading strain that has caused the outbreak, calling it a health emergency.
“Laboratory testing has confirmed the presence of West African clade 2 ampoxvirus in the patient,” the government said in a statement. “This case is an isolated case and is similar to the 30 cases reported in India since July 2022.”
There have been no new cases of the ampox strain reported in India yet, but the government on Monday issued an advisory to all states in the country to remain alert and prepared for possible cases.
The warning comes as a new variant of the virus is spreading rapidly around the world, prompting the World Health Organization to declare the outbreak a global health emergency for the second time in two years.
Ampox usually causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled ulcers, which are usually mild but can be life-threatening. Children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems (such as people with HIV) are at greater risk of complications.
