Kerala on Monday reported India’s second case of monkeypox, just five days after it detected the first case. With these cases, India has become a first country in the WHO South-East Asia region to report such infections.
Following the reports of two confirmed cases, the Centre on Monday issued an alert to ports and airports to ensure strict health screening of international travellers to contain the spread of the infection.
The meeting was attended by airport and port health officers and regional directors from regional offices of health and family welfare department, the Government said.
“They were advised to ensure strict health screening of all arriving international travellers which can minimise the risk of importation of monkeypox cases into the country. They were advised and re-oriented in the clinical presentation of monkeypox disease as per MoHFW’s guidelines for management of monkeypox disease,” it said.
They were also advised to coordinate with other stakeholder agencies like immigration at international ports and airports to streamline health screening processes.
Kerala Health Minister Veena George said a 31-year-old man from Kannur has tested positive for monkeypox. The patient had landed at the Mangalore airport in coastal Karnataka from Dubai on
July 13.
He was admitted to hospital after he exhibited symptoms of the disease. His samples were sent to the National Institute of Virology, Pune, and they tested positive for the virus, the official said.
Reacting to the cases emerging from India, Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia, said, “The region has been on alert for the monkeypox. Countries have been taking measures to rapidly detect and take appropriate measures to prevent spread of the monkeypox.”
The WHO has been supporting member countries in the region to assess the risk for monkeypox and strengthen their capacities to prepare and respond to the evolving multi-country outbreak, she said. Over 6 000 cases of monkeypox and three deaths have been reported from across 60 countries since the beginning of the year. More cases can be expected as surveillance expands.
On July 15, India reported the first confirmed case of monkeypox from Kollam district, prompting the Central Health Ministry to rush a high-level multi-disciplinary team to Kerala to assist the State health authorities in instituting public health measures.
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India reports 2nd monkeypox case
The team shall work closely with the State health departments and take stock of the on-ground situation and recommend necessary public health interventions, the officials had said.
“The Government is taking proactive steps by monitoring the situation carefully and coordinating with the States in case of any such possibility of outbreak,” the Ministry had said.
According to the WHO Regional Director, “Monkeypox requires collective attention and coordinated action to stop its further spread. In addition to using public health measures and ensuring health tools are available to at-risk populations and shared fairly, it is important to work with communities to ensure that people who are most at risk, have the information and support they need to protect themselves and others.”
Monkeypox virus is transmitted from infected animals to humans via indirect or direct contact. Human-to-human transmission can occur through direct contact with infectious skin or lesions, including face-to-face, skin-to-skin and respiratory droplets.
In the current outbreak countries and amongst the reported monkeypox cases, transmission appears to be occurring primarily through close physical contact, including sexual contact. Transmission can also occur from contaminated materials such as linens, bedding, electronics, clothing, that have infectious skin particles.