Deceased Kerala man tested positive for monkeypox: minister

New Delhi:

A Kerala man who recently returned from the United Arab Emirates, who died on Saturday, had tested positive for monkeypox, the state’s health minister said.

The patient was young, had no other illnesses or health conditions and therefore the health department was investigating the cause of his death, Minister Veena George said.

“A young boy returned from the United Arab Emirates on July 22. He was with his family when on July 26 he developed a fever and was admitted on July 27. On July 28 he was placed on a ventilator. He was tested on July 19 for monkeypox in the United Arab Emirates, which came back positive,” Minister Veena George said.

“The person died on July 30. Health department teams attended, samples were sent to NIV, test results show he was positive for monkeypox. Team assembled, genomic sequencing underway at the National Institute of Virology (NIV)”, added the Minister of Health.

According to the protocol, 20 people identified as being at high risk are kept under observation, the minister said. Those under observation are family members, friends and medical personnel who may have been in contact with the victim.

As a precautionary measure, earlier this month the state government issued standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the isolation, specimen collection and treatment of those infected or showing signs of the disease. .

According to the Health Department’s SOP, suspected and probable cases of monkeypox should be handled separately and in isolation and the District Surveillance Officer (DSO) should be notified immediately.

The first case of monkeypox, a rare but potentially serious viral disease, was reported in Kollam district, south Kerala on July 14.

Monkeypox usually manifests with fever, rashes, and swollen lymph nodes and can lead to various medical complications. It is usually a self-limiting disease with symptoms lasting two to four weeks.