A 31-year-old man from Kannur, Kerala, tested positive for monkeypox on Monday, making it the second confirmed case of the disease in India as per the Union health ministry.
State health minister Veena George said the patient landed at the Mangalore airport from Dubai on July 13, and was admitted to Pariyaram medical college hospital after he exhibited symptoms. His samples were sent to the National Institute of Virology, Pune, and they tested positive for the virus.
The minister said preventive measures have been strengthened, with facilities to screen all those who have symptoms similar to chickenpox. Suspected cases will be declared monkeypox-free once the tests turn out to be negative. George said monitoring at all airports is being stepped up and the health authorities are in touch with airport officials on how to implement the decisions.
Random tests would be performed on arriving passengers. Anyone found with chicken pox-like symptoms would be isolated and ambulances are being organised to transport people securely to hospitals, the minister said.
Meanwhile, the first monkeypox patient who had arrived from Sharjah, is recuperating well at the Thiruvananthapuram medical college.
The Union health ministry had last week rushed a high-level multi-disciplinary team to Kerala to assist the state health authorities in instituting public health measures after the first confirmed case of monkeypox was detected from Kollam district last week on Thursday.
As per the health ministry’s advisory a multi-disciplinary central team has been deputed to support the state government of Kerala in investigating the outbreak and institute requisite public health measures. The team will work closely with the state health departments and take stock of the on-ground situation and recommend necessary public health interventions.
