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India reports its very first case with the mpox Clade 1b strain. It has been seen that it is more dangerous compared to the Clade II infections. The infection was detected from the Kerala’s Malappuram district, of a 38-year-old man who had returned from the UAE. This variant was first identified in the Democratic Republic of Congo and has found to be with increased severity.
A few days back, the patient presented himself with symptoms that he described as his chickenpox blended with fever. The doctors suspecting mpox sent his samples for further testing. Though the patient’s condition is steady for the time being, news about the Clade 1b strain has wide-scale concern among all. According to sources, it is the first case of the strain that made the World Health Organization declare mpox as a public health emergency for the second time last month.
Earlier, there was another suspect case of mpox in yet another individual in Delhi, confirmed to be the less virulent Clade II strain. So far, at least 30 cases of mpox have been reported across India after the WHO declared the condition a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in 2022.
What is this Clade 1b infection?
Mpox is caused by a virus that belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus. These viruses have two clades: Clade I and Clade II. Experts suggest that Clade I is more virulent and deadly than Clade II as it includes the 1b strain. There is a general notion that this form is not so virulent, and indeed, for most people, it appears that over 99.9% recover from it; however, the global pandemic of 2022 owes its cause to this clade II, whereas the more virulent clade 1b causes severe symptoms and complications.
The variant known as Clade 1b was first described in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Exactly, it was in the mining town known as Kamituga in South Kivu province. It spread to neighboring places and its way to the countries of Rwanda, Kenya, Burundi, and Uganda. The strain boasts to have a higher level of transmissibility with about 3% case fatalities.
India Reports : Symptoms of Clade 1b infection
The symptoms of mpox, among those brought about by the Clade 1b variant, take one to 21 days to appear and usually lasts two to four weeks. While the manifestations of the Clade 1b infection are more or less similar to other clades, depending on the patient and the circumstances involved, some infections can be more severe in nature.
Some common symptoms include:
Fever
Headache
Muscular pains and body aches
Swollen lymph nodes
Fatigue
Pustules that become furuncles
Sore throat
The rashes are a classic feature of mpox and generally start on the face and then spread to the palms, soles, and the genital areas. Complications involving pneumonia, sepsis, and eye infections sometimes develop, especially among the immunocompromised. That is the reason why Clade 1b gets some concern as it seems to be more virulent and could easily result in worse health implications.
How does mpox spread?
Mpox is a zoonotic infection, which means it can be transferred from the animal kingdom to humans, but human-to-human transfer can still occur through direct contact with lesions, body fluids, and respiratory droplets from an infected individual. The virus can be transmitted through contaminated objects such as clothing, bedding, or towels used by an infected person. Close contact with an infected person while involving activities such as hugging, kissing, or sexual contact increases the chances of transmission.
The highly transmissible Clade 1b strain entails a higher chance of spreading within communities if not contained promptly. Public health specialists add that proper hygiene and taking infected people into isolation could help avoid further spread.
Treatments available for mpox
No specific antiviral treatment exists for mpox at the moment, irrespective of the clade to which the virus belongs. For all patients, WHO advises supportive care to manage any symptoms related to fever and pain. Symptoms of mpox generally do spontaneously resolve, within a week or two, for most patients. They must, however, be extremely careful with their rashes; keep these scrupulously clean, and not touch the lesions to minimize infections from secondarily acquired agents.
An antiviral drug known as Tecovirimat was first developed as a treatment for smallpox. Tecovirimat has been granted marketing authorization by the European Medicines Agency, but only for the treatment of cases of mpox “under exceptional circumstances.” Usage is restricted and generally saved for severe cases or otherwise at higher risk for complications.
Prevention Mpox vaccines were approved. Mpox vaccines include the following:
MVA-BN (Modified Vaccinia Ankara-Bavarian Nordic)
LC16
OrthopoxVac
These are Orthopoxvirus infection-protective vaccines for smallpox and mpox viruses. They are specifically recommended for health workers, laboratory personnel, and others who might be at increased risk of exposure to the virus.
India in the Mpox pandemic
India has been monitoring mpox since it broke out as a global epidemic in 2022. With the country marking its first case of the deadly Clade 1b, the public health officials are most likely to enhance surveillance efforts to stop further transmission. The patient in Kerala is stable and healthy, and health authorities are ensuring that anyone who came into contact with him is also being followed for signs of symptoms.
It is disturbing to identify Clade 1b in India, but the experts claim that timely intervention and strict adherence to isolation protocols would allow the virus not to spread easily. However, lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic should prompt public health authorities to immediately take action in preventing community spread.
Actions for people
They should seek medical help if they have an exposure history to mpox, especially the Clade 1b strain. The early detection of such cases helps avoid secondary transmission because such cases are immediately isolated. If at all, they should also be aware of the symptoms and keep away from close contact with anybody.
Hygiene at all times, with respect to handwashing and cleaning surfaces likely to come into contact with an infected person, is important. In crowded or high-risk areas, the public health officials urge people to take precautions, as well as avoid close contact with a person who has these symptoms of mpox.
The arrival of the Clade 1b strain of mpox in India heralds in a necessity for increased awareness and precautionary measures. The patient at hand in Kerala remains stable, and given the higher transmissibility and virulence of this strain, public health efforts must also remain vigilant regarding its spread. Management through vaccination, isolation, and supportive care will still be the best tools available to handle this emerging public health threat.