Monkeypox testing begins in Kerala: State Health Minister Veena George
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], July 19: As India reported two cases of monkeypox in Kerala and there are suspects of spreading of monkeypox in India, Kerala Health Minister Veena George informed that the state has started Monkeypox testing at NIV Alapuzha.
Veena Geoge said that, "Testing has started at NIV Alapuzha. Kits have been brought to NIV Alapuzha from Pune. Samples from districts are now being sent to Alapuzha for testing. A new disease has been reported in the state. Following that testing is being conducted by taking all precautions. Testing samples in Kerala will reduce the time duration to get the result."
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Meanwhile, second case of monkeypox is reported in Kerala on July 18 in a 31-year-old man who contracted the infection and is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital.
The first case of the monkeypox virus also originated in India on July 14 after a UAE traveller returned to Kerala. He has been admitted to Thiruvananthapuram medical college.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO), monkeypox is a viral zoonotic infection caused by the monkeypox virus. It spreads mostly from human contact.
Those in close contact with him have been put under surveillance, the minister added.
Meanwhile, the Union Health Ministry on Friday released new guidelines for the management of the Monkeypox disease. The Ministry listed out points for the general masses to avoid the contradiction of the disease which included avoiding contact with dead or wild animals (rodents, monkeys).
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The health secretary asked all the states and union territories to take key actions like orientation and regular re-orientation of all key stakeholders including health screening teams at points of entries (PoEs), disease surveillance teams, doctors working in hospitals about common signs and symptoms, differential diagnosis, case definitions for suspect/probable/confirmed cases and contacts, contact tracing and other surveillance activities that need to be undertaken following detection of a case, testing, IPC protocols, clinical management etc.
-PTC News
