On Friday, Kerala reported its second monkeypox (Mpox) case after a man who returned from abroad tested positive in Ernakulam.
This is the second case of Mpox in Kerala.
The man, who reportedly returned from the United Arab Emirates, has been admitted to a private hospital in Kochi and is in stable condition.
A contact list of the patients has been prepared and preventive measures have been taken, PTI reported, quoting state Health Minister Veena George.
The minister said precautionary measures have been taken and a contact list of patients has been drawn up.
George said in a statement that isolation facilities have been set up in all districts.
The health department is also urging people with symptoms to seek treatment.
On September 23, India reported its first case of the Mpox strain from Kerala, which prompted the WHO to declare a public health emergency.
The clade 1b strain was detected in a 38-year-old man from Malappuram who had also returned from the United Arab Emirates.
Thirty cases have been reported in India since WHO declared Mpox a public health emergency of international concern in 2022.
On September 26, the Union Health Ministry issued an advisory on MPOX disease to all states and union territories. The ministry has directed states to assess the public health preparedness of health facilities, and the review will be conducted by senior officials at both state and district levels.
The ministry listed key public health measures that need to be implemented to prevent further spread of Mpox in the country and minimize the risk.
How Mpox spreads
Mpox infections are generally self-limiting, with a duration of 2 to 4 weeks, and patients usually recover with supportive treatment and management.
It is transmitted through close, long-term contact with infected patients.
Mpox is usually accompanied by fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes and can cause a variety of complications.