Second monkeypox case, again from Kerala

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 18

Kerala on Monday reported India’s second case of monkeypox.

The 31-year-old patient returned from Dubai on July 13 and is under treatment at Pariyaram Medical College in Kannur. His condition is stable, state Health Minister Veena George said. The first case was also reported from Kerala on July 14 and the patient had returned from the UAE.

Smallpox-like disease

• Monkeypox is an orthopoxvirus that causes a disease with symptoms similar, but less severe, to smallpox
• While smallpox was eradicated in 1980, monkeypox continues to occur in central and west Africa
• Monkeypox is a zoonosis, meaning a disease transmitted from animals to humans. Cases are often found close to tropical rainforests

Transmission in humans

• Human-to-human transmission is limited
• Can spread through contact with bodily fluids, lesions on the skin or on internal mucosal surfaces, such as in the mouth or throat, respiratory droplets and contaminated objects
• Detection of viral DNA by polymerase chain reaction is the preferred laboratory test for monkeypox

Ways of Prevention

• Isolate in case of symptoms
• Avoid skin-to-skin or face-to-face contact, including sexual contact, with anyone sick
• Wear mask when in contact with someone showing symptoms
• Wash hands often

Symptoms

• Rashes with blisters on face, hands, feet, eyes, mouth and/or genitals
• Fever and swollen lymph nodes
• Headache, muscle pain and low energy

India’s second case came ahead of the July 21 meeting of the WHO’s emergency committee to discuss if the disease spread constituted a public health emergency of international concern.

A multidisciplinary team of the Health Ministry is, meanwhile, stationed in Kerala to help the state respond.

The Centre has earlier issued guidelines on the management of monkeypox, saying individuals who have a history of exposure to a suspected or confirmed case in the last 21 days should monitor their health and seek medical attention in case they show symptoms.

The ministry said common symptoms included fever, skin rashes starting from face and spreading to arms, legs, palms and feet, lymph node enlargement, headache, muscle ache and exhaustion, sore throat and cough.

The Health Ministry also reviewed the status of apparatus for health screening of international travellers arriving in India at airports and ports. The meeting was attended by airport and port health officials. They were advised to ensure strict health screening of all arriving international travellers to minimise the risk of importation of monkeypox cases.

The officials were also told to strictly follow guidelines for the management of monkeypox issued earlier.

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Tribune News Service

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