New Delhi, Sept 24: India has reported its first case of the Mpox Clade 1 strain on Monday, which the World Health Organization (WHO) recently declared a public health emergency.

Official sources informed that the infection was detected in a 38-year-old man from Malappuram, Kerala, who had recently returned from the UAE. The patient is currently stable and under observation.

This is the first reported case of the Clade 1 strain, which prompted the WHO to issue the health emergency alert last month. Health Ministry spokesperson Manisha Verma confirmed the diagnosis after reports surfaced that the Mpox case in Kerala’s Malappuram district involved the Clade 1 strain.

Previously, India reported a case involving a 26-year-old from Hisar, Haryana, who tested positive for the West African Clade 2 strain earlier this month. Since the WHO declared Mpox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in 2022, India has recorded 30 cases in total.

Mpox Clade 1b, primarily endemic to Central Africa, is known for its severe illness and rapid spread. WHO sounded the public health alarm due to rising infections across Africa. More than 30,000 suspected cases have been recorded in Africa this year, with most from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Over 800 deaths have occurred, and neighboring Burundi has also seen a surge in cases.