According to the preliminary investigation conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, three out of the five cases of monkeypox reported from Delhi had a history of heterosexual interaction.
According to the study, "Cases 2, 3 and 5 shared the history of heterosexual contact within 21 days of onset of symptoms not under influence of drugs or alcohol," revealed the study.
Out of the remaining two cases, there was no sexual interaction. According to the report, Cases 1 and 4 had denied any sexual intercourse. "All the cases were mild and had a good recovery. These monkeypox cases suggest an underdiagnosed monkeypox infection in the community. This emphasizes the need for active surveillance of MPXV in a high-risk population such as men having sex with men (MSM) and female sex workers (FSW)," the report revealed. "OPS, NPS, and urine are found to be the other appropriate specimens. Considering the evolvement in the clinical presentation of monkeypox cases (single lesion/other symptoms without lesion/asymptomatic), OPS, NPS and urine samples could be utilised for the MPXV diagnosis," the study revealed.
No STDs (sexually transmitted diseases or infections) were found, although in one of the cases, HBV was recorded, according to the ICMR report (hepatitis B virus).
The paper also disclosed that no cases under study had received a monkeypox or smallpox vaccination. With a mean age of 31.2 years and a mild to moderate grade intermittent fever with myalgia, the five cases included three males and two females.
The study also showed that suitable specimens for diagnosing monkeypox include oral, throat, urine, or nose swabs.