MUMBAI: India reported the first confirmed situation of monkeypox upon Thursday (Jul 14), a 35-year-old man with a history of travel to the Middle East, federal government officials said.
The man, who travelled from the United Arab Emirates towards the southern Indian state of Kerala on Jul 12, is at stable condition together been isolated in a hospital, the california’s health minister, Veena George told reporters late on Thursday.
“He is certainly stable and all his vital signs are usually normal. We have questioned all districts to be on alert, ” George said.
Monkeypox, endemic in parts of Africa, is a viral disease that leads to flu-like symptoms plus skin lesions. Around 60 countries by which monkeypox is not endemic have reported outbreaks of the disease, with confirmed cases bridging 10, 500.
George said the patient’s parents along with other primary contacts are also isolated while 11 passengers who arrived contact with him on his flight and some others have been told to watch for symptoms.
The federal government said in a release that it was sending a high-level group to the state to work alongside local authorities and suggest necessary public wellness measures.
Earlier on Thursday, it questioned states to step-up testing and monitoring for possible monkeypox infections.
“As COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose challenges, it is essential we remain aware and alert regarding other public health threats and proactively prepare ourselves to tackle them, ” federal health admin Rajesh Bhushan said in a letter in order to states.