On July 24, 2022, Delhi confirmed its first case of monkeypox, a day after it was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organisation. The Health Ministry confirmed that a 34-year-old male resident of Delhi was isolated at Lok Nayak Hospital as a suspected case of monkeypox. The patient had no history of travel and was admitted to the hospital with a fever and skin lesions. The ministry added that the patient was recovering at the designated isolation center at Lok Nayak Hospital. The close contacts of the case have been identified and are being kept under isolation per the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. 

Additionally, health facilities have been asked to look for patients with unexplained rash and a history of travel in the last 21 days to a country that has recently confirmed cases of or has suspected cases of, monkeypox. The ‘Guidelines on Management of Monkeypox Disease’ issued by the Centre states the transmission of the monkeypox virus happens primarily through large respiratory droplets, generally requiring prolonged close contact. 

Monkeypox virus is transmitted from infected animals to humans via indirect or direct contact. Human-to-human transmission can occur through direct contact with infectious skin or lesions, including face-to-face, skin-to-skin, and respiratory droplets. In the current outbreak across countries and amongst the reported monkeypox cases, transmission appears to be occurring primarily through close physical contact, including sexual contact.