In Kozhikode, a man from Othayi in Edavanna panchayat is hospitalized at Manjeri Govt Medical College with symptoms of Mpox, a viral illness believed to be caused by the monkeypox virus. The 38-year-old man, who recently returned from Dubai, sought treatment for fever and skin rashes on Monday. Doctors admitted him for observation upon learning of his symptoms and travel history. Samples have been sent to the virology lab at Kozhikode Govt Medical College Hospital for testing, with results expected by Wednesday evening.

Health Minister Veena George confirmed the situation, emphasizing the man's precautionary measures of isolating himself upon returning home. The District Medical Officer, Dr. R Renuka, urged vigilance among the man's close family members. Mpox has been classified as a public health emergency by the WHO due to the emergence of a new strain, Clade 1, primarily affecting regions in Africa. While a case of Mpox has been reported in India, it does not involve the new virus strain.

Additionally, it is noted that the Union health ministry identified the virus strain as Clade 2, similar to earlier cases reported in India from 2002.Part of the ongoing global health crisis as reported by the World Health Organization concerns Clade 1 of Monkeypox (Mpox), a disease caused by the Monkeypox virus (MPXV). MPXV is a double-stranded DNA virus with an envelope, belonging to the Orthopoxvirus genus in the Poxviridae family. There are two distinct variants of the virus: Clade I (with subclades 1a and 1b) and Clade 2 (with subclades 2a and 2b). Mpox can be transmitted through close contact with an infected individual, contaminated materials, or infected animals. Common symptoms of Mpox include rashes, fever, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, and swollen lymph nodes.