Sep 24, 2024
Kerala: The Kerala health department announced plans to release revised guidelines for the prevention and treatment of Mpox, a decision that came in the wake of the southern state repolting the country’s first confirmed case of the new strain on Monday. The State Level Rapid Response Team (RRT) held a meeting to assess the overall situation in the state.
After the meeting, state Health Minister Veena George said instructions have been given to take necessaiY action if the number of cases increases.
“Isolation facilities have been set up in all districts, and monitoring has been strengthened, including at airports. Currently, testing facilities have been arranged in five laboratories. If required, testing facilities will be expanded to more labs,” she said in a statement.
She said those arriving from other countries who show symptoms should inform the health department and seek treatment.
The minister also instructed that if anyone with Mpox symptoms comes to government or private hospitals, the health depaltment should be informed.
Earlier, official sources in New Delhi said India had repcn•tecl the first case of the Mpox strain in a patient from Kerala who tested positive last week.
They said the Clade 1b strain was detected in a 38-year-old man from Malappuram district who had recently returned from the United Arab Emirates.
The patient is stable, the sources said, adding, “This was the first case of the current strain that led the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare Mpox a public health emergency last month for a second time.”
The earlier case of Mpox that emerged in the national capital was a 26- yem=old resident of Haiyana’s Hisar who tested positive for the previous West African Clade 2 strain earlier this month.
Since the WHO’s 2022 declaration of Mpox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, 30 cases have been reported in India.
Mpox infections are generally self-limiting, lasting between two and four weeks, and patients usually recover with suppcntive medical care and management.
It is transmitted through prolonged and close contact with an infected patient.
Mpox typically manifests itself with fever, rash and swollen lymph nodes and may lead to a range of medical complications.
Source: Economic Times