India’s Ministry of Health stated on Sunday that the country suspects a man of having monkeypox, who recently traveled to a country experiencing an outbreak of the virus causing the disease.
The ministry added that the patient is currently isolated in a hospital and his condition is stable.
The ministry did not specify the strain of the virus but is conducting tests to confirm his infection.
Monkeypox spreads through close contact. The symptoms are usually not severe and rarely fatal. Symptoms resemble the flu in addition to blisters appearing on the body.
The ministry stated: “The case is being managed in accordance with existing protocols, and contact tracing is underway to identify potential sources and assess the impact within the country.”
Last month, the Hindu daily newspaper reported that the country has been on alert since a new strain of monkeypox emerged in Africa.
The World Health Organization declared monkeypox a public health emergency globally after detecting the new strain of the virus.
India has recorded 30 cases of an older strain, known as sub-strain 2, between 2022 and March 2024.
