Maharashtra: First Monkeypox Case Reported In Dhule; Patient Recently Returned From Saudi Arabia
Maharashtra: First Monkeypox Case Reported In Dhule; Patient Recently Returned From Saudi Arabia
Dhule, October 14, 2025 — Maharashtra has reported its first confirmed case of monkeypox after a man from Dhule tested positive for the infection. The patient, who has been residing in Saudi Arabia for the past four years, had returned to his hometown in Garib Nawaz Nagar on October 2 to attend his daughter’s wedding.
Health authorities stated that soon after his arrival, the man developed skin-related symptoms suggestive of monkeypox. His consulting physician immediately alerted the Dhule Municipal Corporation’s health department, which collected his blood samples and sent them to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, for testing.
The initial test confirmed the presence of the virus, and a subsequent verification test also returned positive results, confirming Maharashtra’s first case of monkeypox.
Officials added that the patient is diabetic and showing a slower recovery than usual. A dedicated medical team is closely monitoring his health and ensuring all preventive measures are in place.
Experts have cautioned that two variants of the monkeypox virus — Clade-1 and Clade-2 — are currently in circulation globally, with Clade-1 being more infectious. India has so far recorded 35 confirmed monkeypox cases, with Dhule marking the first instance reported in Maharashtra.
