नेपाल सम्वत् ११४५ थिंलागाः १३ ( १३ पुष , २०८१) डिसेम्बर २८, २०२४ , शनिबार, बाँपीझ्याला । Nepal’s Ministry of Health and Population is preparing to send specimens from mpox (monkeypox) patients to a World Health Organization (WHO) collaborating center in Thailand to determine the virus’s clade. Clade identification, which categorizes the virus into subtypes based on its genetic origin, helps assess its virulence and transmissibility, aiding efforts to contain its spread.
Nepal lacks the facilities to perform virus sub-typing domestically, prompting officials to seek WHO support. According to Dr. Hemanta Chandra Ojha from the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, specimens—such as fluid or crusts from skin rashes—will be sent for analysis. This will help health authorities identify the specific clade and implement additional measures if needed. Currently, three mpox clades are known: clade I (Congo Basin), clade IIa (West Africa), and clade IIb (global human transmission). While clade I has a high mortality rate of up to 10%, clade IIa and IIb are less severe. Clade IIb was identified in Nepal’s first mpox case last year.
The country confirmed its second mpox case last week in a 36-year-old man returning from Saudi Arabia. The patient is reported to be in stable condition and may soon be discharged from the hospital. To prevent further spread, authorities have intensified surveillance measures, including screening at Tribhuvan International Airport and other entry points. Health workers at key locations, such as Pokhara International Airport, have been oriented to identify potential cases. Dermatologists across the country have been asked to refer suspected cases for testing.
Public health experts caution that screening at borders alone may not suffice, as mpox symptoms, including fever, rash, and body aches, can take 5–21 days to appear. Nepal’s porous border with India, which has reported 30 mpox cases since 2022, further heightens the risk of cross-border transmission. Globally, mpox has infected over 100,000 people across 122 countries since its global outbreak in May 2022. While the disease is typically mild, experts stress the importance of precautions such as self-isolation and good hygiene to curb its spread.
