Suspected monkeypox case reported in Kerala

A suspected case of monkeypox infection has been reported from Malappuram district of Kerala after a man who recently returned from Dubai showed symptoms of the disease.

State Health Minister Veena George said that the man, on noticing the symptoms, had taken precautionary measures by isolating himself from his family and was currently hospitalised at the Manjeri Medical College here.

“His samples have been sent for testing and the results are awaited,” the minister told reporters in Delhi. Earlier in the day, a district health official said that the patient arrived in Kerala a few days ago and, after falling sick, was first admitted to a private hospital. A new case of monkeypox was reported last week from Delhi after a 26-year-old resident of Haryana’s Hisar tested positive for the virus and was admitted to Delhi government-run LNJP Hospital. The Health Ministry had termed it an isolated case, similar to the earlier 30 cases reported in India from July 2022 onwards and said that it was not part of the current public health emergency reported by WHO.