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Updated: Aug 01, 2022 10:21 p.m IS
By Shalini Bhardwaj
New Delhi [India]AUGUST 1 (ANI): A 35-year-old Nigerian man living in the national capital with no recent international travel history tests positive for monkeypox, official sources said on Monday.
This is the sixth case of monkeypox in India and the second in Delhi.
The patient is admitted to Lok Nayak Jaiprakash Hospital, which is under the government of Delhi.
India has so far reported six cases of monkeypox, including four from Kerala and two from Delhi.
The Kerala government today declared the first death from monkeypox. A 22-year-old man who had tested positive for monkeypox in the United Arab Emirates arrived in India on July 22 and was hospitalized on July 27 after testing positive for monkeypox again.
“The situation is well under control, there is no panic at the moment. The person had direct contact with only 10 people, including family members and some friends. So far, 20 people have been quarantined,” said Renjini, a member of the Standing Committee on Education and Health.
The center set up a task force in the wake of the monkeypox cases in India to monitor and advise the government on expanding diagnostic facilities and investigating vaccination against the infection in the country.
The decision was made during a meeting attended by Cabinet Secretary, Union Health Minister Rajesh Bhushan, Assistant Secretary (PMO) and other senior officials.
“The team is led by Dr. VK Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog and members including the Secretary, Union Ministry of Health, Pharma and Biotech,” sources told ANI.
In the meantime, a contact list and a route map for the deceased young people have been drawn up. Contacts are advised to go into isolation.
The central government is on high alert, although the number of infections has risen in some other countries.
NITI Aayogs Member (Health) Dr. VK Paul said there was absolutely no need to panic as the government had taken significant measures to keep the disease at bay.
In an interview with ANI, Dr. Paul said there was no need for undue panic, but added that it was still important for the country and society to remain vigilant.
“There is no reason to panic as of now, but you have to report in good time if symptoms appear,” he said.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 18,000 cases have been reported from 78 countries.
“The monkeypox outbreak can be stopped when countries, communities and individuals educate themselves, take the risks seriously and take the necessary steps to stop transmission and protect vulnerable groups,” said Dr. Tedros, WHO director-general, on Thursday.
Monkeypox is a zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus, which belongs to the same family of viruses that cause smallpox. The disease is endemic in regions such as West and Central Africa, but cases from non-endemic countries have also been reported recently, according to the WHO. (ANI)
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