The first case of Monkeypox in the country was confirmed in Kerala on Thursday. A 35-year-old man who came from UAE a few days ago has been admitted to Thiruvananthapuram medical college.
While in UAE, the patient was in close contact with a person tested positive to the disease.
“There is no need to panic. According to the patient, he was not in close contact with persons other than his family members and the two drivers. The state health department has already upped its ante against the disease”, Health minister Veena George said, adding that the patient was treated for the symptoms, following the protocol laid out for the treatment.
“Other than anxiety, the patient is having no other major health problems at this point”, the minister said. His parents have also been isolated and kept under medical observation.
Meanwhile, the Union health ministry has rushed a high-level multi-disciplinary team to Kerala to collaborate with the state health authorities in instituting public health measures.
Cases of monkeypox have already been reported in several European countries and the United States. The World Health Organization (WHO) had earlier warned the spread of cases could ‘accelerate’.
On Thursday, the WHO said it would reconvene its committee of experts on July 21 to decide whether the monkeypox outbreak constitutes a global health emergency.
