PUNE: A genetic analysis of a recently identified and more persistent monkeypox (Mpox) variant detected in Kerala has established a connection between these cases and foreign travel, along with evidence of ongoing human-to-human transmission. The research focused on Mpox Clade Ib, a strain responsible for outbreaks in parts of Africa that has also been reported in multiple countries outside the continent. This variant appears to spread more rapidly and extensively than earlier versions of the virus, highlighting the need for increased monitoring.
As per a report in TOI, the investigation was conducted by scientists from Pune’s ICMR-National Institute of Virology in collaboration with Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratories across India. It examined 10 laboratory-confirmed Mpox Clade Ib cases in Kerala occurring between September 2024 and March 2025.
Published in the journal Virology, the study revealed ongoing viral evolution with significant implications for disease surveillance and public health strategies. Researchers identified a unique mutation pattern indicative of sustained transmission between humans. This mutation profile was more pronounced in Clade Ib compared to older virus variants, suggesting continued adaptation during circulation.
Additionally, the viral sequences contained mutations in several genes previously recognized as mutation hotspots in Clade Ib strains from the Democratic Republic of Congo, indicating evolutionary similarities across different geographic areas. A novel mutation was found in six out of the 10 cases. The team analyzed patients’ symptoms, viral loads, immune responses, and complete viral genetic sequences.
The results indicated that the virus entered India not through a single individual but as part of a broader regional spread associated with international travel. Epidemiological data showed that nine of the 10 patients had traveled abroad before testing positive for this strain, while one case involved local transmission.
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