Amid Nipah Scare, Kerala Reports Suspected Monkeypox Case

Kerala has reported a suspected case of monkeypox after a man from abroad showed symptoms of the contagious disease.

If confirmed, this is the second case in India after a confirmed infection in Haryana. The suspected case is reported from Malappuram district=. His samples have been sent for testing to Kozhikode Medical College, with results pending to determine the strain of the virus.

Initially admitted to a private hospital, the man was later transferred to the state-run Manjeri Medical College when doctors suspected monkeypox. "From there he was admitted to the Manjeri Medical College. On suspecting that it might be a case of monkeypox, we sent his samples to the Kozhikode Medical College for testing. The results are awaited," PTI quoted an official as saying.

This case comes in the wake of containment zones established in Malappuram following the recent death of a 24-year-old due to Nipah virus infection. The government confirmed the Nipah virus fatality on September 9.

Last week, a 26-year-old from Haryana's Hisar tested positive for monkeypox and was admitted to Delhi's LNJP Hospital. The Union Health Ministry described the case as isolated, noting that it did not form part of the ongoing public health emergency declared by WHO, which pertains to clade 1 of the virus. The Hisar case involved the West African clade-2 strain.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently classified monkeypox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) due to its spread across Africa.

Monkeypox infections are generally self-limiting, lasting two to four weeks, and are typically treated with supportive care. The virus spreads through prolonged close contact and presents symptoms like fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes, which can lead to further complications.