Thrissur/New Delhi, Aug 1 (UNI): The first death due to monkeypox in the country is reported from Thrissur in Kerala with the health department on Monday confirming that the youth who died on Saturday had succumbed to the deadly disease.
On Sunday, state Health Minister Veena George had revealed that the 22-year-old youth had tested positive for monkeypox in the UAE before he reached Kerala on July 22. The government had also ordered a probe into the circumstances that led to the delay in reporting the test result to the health department.
The confirmation came from the National Institute of Virology in Pune where his samples were tested after an initial confirmation at the institute’s regional unit in Kerala. This is India’s first confirmed monkeypox death.
Meanwhile, the second case of monkeypox was confirmed in the national capital, sources told UNI.
The new patient is a male African national who has been living in Delhi for several years now. The patient was checked into Lok Nayak Hospital (LNH) after he complained of fever and blisters started appearing on his skin.
According to sources, the patient has no recent history of international travel. “His report came today from National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune which confirmed him positive for the Monkeypox,” a senior official said.
“We have initiated tracing his contacts and identification of the source of infection is underway. His recent contacts are being identified and will be told to go into quarantine,” the official added.
Meanwhile, two more African nationals are admitted to the LNH after they showed symptoms of the disease. The patients are suspected of contracting the Monkeypox virus as their reports are awaited, sources said.
