Suspected monkeypox infection reported in Kerala's Malappuram


Malappuram: A suspected case of monkeypox infection has been reported in Kerala's Malappuram district, where a person who recently returned from abroad showed symptoms of the disease.

The district health official said the patient had arrived in Kerala a few days ago and was first admitted to a private hospital after he fell ill.

“From there, he was admitted to Manjeri Medical College. Suspecting that it could be a case of monkeypox, we sent his samples for testing to Kozhikode Medical College. The results are awaited,” the official said.

Last week, a new case of monkeypox was reported in the national capital when a 26-year-old man, resident of Hisar in Haryana, tested positive for the virus and was admitted to the Delhi government-run LNJP hospital.

The Union Health Ministry had described it as an isolated case, similar to the 30 cases reported earlier in India since July 2022, and said it was not part of the current public health emergency reported by the WHO regarding clade 1 of ampox.

It said a 26-year-old man, a resident of Hisar, was found positive for the West African Clade-2 ampoxvirus.

Last month, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared ampox a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) for the second time, given its prevalence and spread in many parts of Africa.

Ampox infection is usually self-limited, lasting two to four weeks, and patients usually recover with supportive medical care and management. It is spread through prolonged and close contact with an infected patient.

It typically manifests as fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes and can lead to a variety of medical complications.

The suspected monkeypox case in Kerala comes in the wake of a containment zone being set up in Malappuram district following the recent death of a 24-year-old man due to Nipah infection.

The government on Sunday confirmed that the man who died on September 9 was infected with the Nipah virus.

A boy from Malappuram died on July 21 while undergoing treatment for Nipah infection. This was the first confirmed case of Nipah infection in the state this year.

Nipah outbreaks have been reported in Kozhikode district in 2018, 2021 and 2023, and in Ernakulam district in 2019.

The presence of Nipah virus antibodies has been detected in bats from Kozhikode, Wayanad, Idukki, Malappuram and Ernakulam districts.

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