India reported its first monkeypox case in Kerala on Thursday, 14 July, after a traveller from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) tested positive for the virus, Kerala Health Minister Veena George, said.
The man arrived in Kerala three days ago and was hospitalised after he displayed symptoms. His samples were sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune.
The Centre has rushed a high-level, multi-disciplinary team to the state to collaborate with the state health authorities, the Union Health Ministry said.
The patient landed at the Thiruvananthapuram airport and is "quite stable, with all vitals normal," Kerala Health Minister Veena George told news agency ANI.
His primary contacts have also been identified, including his father, mother, a taxi driver, an auto driver, and 11 fellow passengers from adjacent seats, she added.
'Situation Does Not Warrant Worry': Kerala CM
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Thursday that the patient, who is symptomatic, has been isolated. Others with symptoms similar to monkeypox are being tested, he added.
''Make washing hands and wearing mask a habit. The situation does not warrant worry. We can resist monkeypox just as we can resist COVID," he said.
Centre Issues Directions to States, UTs
The central team to Kerala comprises experts drawn from National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr RML Hospital, New Delhi and senior officials from the Health Ministry, along with experts from Regional Office of Health and Family Welfare, Kerala, the Ministry of Health tweeted.
Earlier on Thursday, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, issued directives on dealing with monkeypox cases to states and Union Territories, including adequate contact tracing, deploying surveillance teams, and screening and testing suspect cases.
'Transmitted Only Through Very Close Contact': Doctor
While 99% of the current cases were transmitted through male-to-male sexual contact, 80% of the cases were in Europe, America, Canada, Australia and others, Infectious Diseases Expert and Consultant for HIV/STDs Dr Ishwar Gilada said.
"Monkeypox is transmitted mainly through close or very close personal contact," he added, according to news agency ANI.
Gilada further explained that although there was no "perfect treatment for monkeypox," the smallpox vaccine could be useful.
"We should avoid any stigma/discrimination & should take precautions," he said.
What Is Monkeypox?
Monkeypox is a virus that causes smallpox-like skin lesions, but symptoms are usually milder than those of smallpox. Flu-like symptoms are common initially, ranging from fever and headache to shortness of breath.
Although monkeypox is rare and usually non-fatal, the Congo strain reportedly causes death in up to 10 percent of the patients.
At least 10,000 cases were reported in over 60 countries on Thursday.
The World Health Organization (WHO) in a statement on 6 July said that monkeypox has begun spreading through local transmission for the first time in newly affected countries with no travel histories to West or Central Africa, where monkeypox is endemic.
However, the organisation is yet to declare this a pandemic or a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
(With inputs from ANI.)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)