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India has reported 27 laboratory-confirmed cases of Mpox (formerly known as Monkeypox) and one associated death between January 2022 and June 2024, according to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) latest update. This report highlights the ongoing transmission of Mpox both in India and globally.
The WHO’s 35th situation report for the multi-country Mpox outbreak revealed that in June 2024 alone, a total of 934 new laboratory-confirmed cases and four deaths were reported from 26 countries, indicating the continued global spread of the disease.
Globally, the African Region has been the most affected, with 567 cases reported between January 2022 and June 2024. Following this are the Americas with 175 cases, the European Region with 100 cases, the Western Pacific Region with 81 cases, and the South-East Asia Region with 11 cases. The Eastern Mediterranean Region did not report any cases in June 2024.
Within the South-East Asia region, Thailand reported the highest number of confirmed cases with 805, followed by Indonesia with 88 cases, India with 27 cases, Sri Lanka with four cases, and Nepal with one case. Thailand also recorded the highest number of deaths in the region, with 10 fatalities attributed to Mpox, while India reported one death.
The WHO underscored the importance of ongoing surveillance, noting that the actual number of Mpox cases may be higher than reported due to declining reporting rates from some countries. The organization stressed the need for continued vigilance and accurate data collection to manage the outbreak effectively.
The report also noted that four new countries in Eastern Africa—Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda—reported their first Mpox cases. The rise in infections in these countries has been attributed to Clade I of the Mpox virus. In West Africa, Cote d’Ivoire is currently experiencing an outbreak linked to Clade II MPXV, and South Africa has reported two additional confirmed cases.
Mpox is a viral zoonotic disease primarily found in tropical rainforest areas of Central and West Africa. The disease was first identified in monkeys in research laboratories in the 1950s, and the first human case was documented in 1970. The virus occasionally spreads to other regions, leading to outbreaks like the current one.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is expected to convene an emergency committee under the International Health Regulations (IHR) to assess whether the current Mpox outbreak constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). This is the highest level of health alert issued by the WHO, previously declared for seven health emergencies, including H1N1 swine flu, poliovirus, Ebola, Zika virus, Ebola again, Covid-19, and Mpox.
As the world continues to grapple with the Mpox outbreak, it is crucial for countries to maintain robust surveillance systems and for the global community to remain vigilant in addressing this ongoing public health challenge.
