The Kerala health department announced on Friday the emergence of another Mpox case in the state, prompting officials to encourage anyone exhibiting symptoms to seek immediate medical care. This follows the report of India’s first confirmed case of the new Clade 1b strain earlier in the week.

State Health Minister Veena George stated that a high-level evaluation meeting was convened to assess the ongoing situation. The contact list of the confirmed patient has been compiled, and necessary preventive measures are being implemented across the state. The Minister specifically urged travelers from abroad to report any symptoms to health authorities.

"Isolation facilities have been established in all districts," George confirmed in a statement. Furthermore, the health department has plans to release updated guidelines aimed at preventing and treating Mpox, with an emphasis on taking swift action should case numbers rise.

The initial case involved a 38-year-old man from Malappuram district, who tested positive after returning from the United Arab Emirates. Since the World Health Organization declared Mpox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in 2022, India has recorded 30 cases.

Mpox infections typically manifest as fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes, with the illness generally lasting between two to four weeks. Most patients recover with supportive care, although close contact with infected individuals remains a primary mode of transmission.