Maharashtra on High Alert After First Monkeypox Case Reported in Dhule

Maharashtra’s health system is now on high alert after the state recorded its first confirmed case of monkeypox (Mpox). The case was found in the Dhule district, which is about 330 kilometers from Pune, prompting health officials across the region to increase surveillance.

The patient is a 44-year-old man who recently returned to Dhule from Saudi Arabia on October 2. He had been living in Saudi Arabia for four years and travelled back for his daughter’s wedding. Soon after arriving, he developed skin issues and was admitted to the Bhausaheb Hire Government Medical College and Hospital in Dhule on October 3.

Following three blood tests, the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune confirmed the positive result, verifying that the man has the contagious Mpox disease. This makes him the first confirmed case in Maharashtra, and one of over 30 reported in India since the virus re-emerged globally.

(representational image, generated by AI)

Authorities have acted swiftly. The patient has been placed in an isolated ward at the hospital, and his condition is reported to be stable. Encouragingly, tests for his close contacts, including his wife and son, have come back negative, easing immediate fears of wider spread.

The State Health Department, along with local bodies, has been directed to strictly follow all central guidelines for surveillance and prevention. As Pune is a major travel hub, the public is advised to stay vigilant. People should immediately seek medical advice if they experience symptoms like fever, headache, body aches, or a new skin rash, especially if they have a history of recent international travel.