Kerala reports 2 Monkeypox cases, patients travelled from UAE

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala's Health Minister Veena George said on Wednesday that two cases of Monkeypox (Mpox) have been reported in the state.

Two men, who recently returned to Kerala from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), tested positive for the disease, the minister said.

According to the PTI report, one of the men, a resident of Wayanad district, was initially found to be infected, while the second individual, from Kannur, tested positive later, according to her statement.

Both patients are currently undergoing treatment at Pariyaram Medical College in Kannur. Their contact tracing details and movement history will be published soon, the statement added.

In response to the cases, the Health Department has instructed those who came into contact with the patients to monitor themselves for symptoms and report any signs of illness promptly.

Also Read:Mpox remains public health emergency of International concern, says WHO

A state-level Rapid Response Team (RRT), convened under the Health Minister, held a meeting to assess the situation and issued directives to arrange additional isolation facilities.

Travellers arriving from abroad who develop symptoms have been advised to isolate themselves and inform the health department immediately, it said.

Awareness campaigns, including those at airports, have been intensified. Vulnerable groups such as the elderly, pregnant women, and children have been urged to exercise extra caution, the statement added.

Kerala had reported a few monkeypox cases in September this year, following the global outbreak of the disease.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that India has made significant progress in enhancing its readiness to combat Mpox outbreaks by utilizing a collaborative multisectoral approach and public health response to address current and future challenges effectively. On 4 December 2024, the Emergency Medical Relief (EMR) Division of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), organized a workshop on Mpox chaired by Director General of Health Services Prof. Atul Goel and WHO Representative to India Dr Roderico H. Ofrin.

Also Read:WHO approves first mpox diagnostic test for emergency use, boosting global access