Kerala reports India’s first monkeypox case

Contact Counsellor

Last Updated16/07/2022

First known lab-confirmed case of monkeypox in India has been reported in Kerala.

National Institute of Virology, Pune confirmed the disease.
Person infected came from UAE.
Few other persons who might qualify as contacts will go into isolation and monitoring for the next 21 days.
All districts have been asked to enhance disease surveillance and look for any fever with unusual symptoms.
Kerala Health Department has taken all precautions to ensure that the infection does not spread outside the circle of close contacts.

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Monkeypox initially presents like any tropical disease with fever, headache, joint ache and possible swelling of the lymph glands.
The incubation period ranges from five to 21 days.
Symptoms: Rashes on face, inside palms and body one to four days after fever.
Course of the disease could last two to four weeks, during which time the rashes progress into pustules, vesicular lesions and scabs.
Mode of transmission: through close contact and by touching or sharing clothes or bedding used by the patient because the lesions usually have a high viral load.
Transmission extends throughout the course of the illness, till the lesions heal.