India’s First Monkeypox Death? 22-yr-Old, Who Died in Kerala's Thrissur, Tested Positive in UAE
India’s First Monkeypox Death? 22-yr-Old, Who Died in Kerala's Thrissur, Tested Positive in UAE
Kerala Health Minister Veena George said they will also be examining why there was a delay in his hospitalisation after he arrived from UAE on July 21

A day after a 22-year-old man from Thrissur died due to suspected monkeypox symptoms, Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Sunday said the man had tested positive for the virus in a test in the UAE. The man, who had returned from high-risk UAE on July 21, stayed with his family members and sought treatment at a private hospital on July 27 for severe fatigue and brain fever. Health officials have sent the samples of the deceased to the National Institute of Virology at Alappuzha for confirmation.

The report for the monkeypox test was submitted by his family members on Saturday. “His monkeypox test done in a foreign country was positive, but his relatives gave the report to hospital authorities yesterday,” the health minister said.

She further said the virus is not as highly virulent or contagious as Covid-19. “People who came into contact with other infected people elsewhere did not get sick,” she said, adding that it is important to take preventive measures. The minister also said that there were no studies available about this particular variant from other countries where the disease has been detected and thus, Kerala was carrying out a study on it.

“Comparatively, the mortality rate of this variant is low. Therefore, we will examine why the 22-year-old man died in this particular case as he had no other illness or health problems,” the minister told the media.

She said they will also examine the reasons for the delay in his hospitalisation after he arrived from UAE on July 21.

The family members of the deceased have been asked to cremate the body as per the WHO protocols, a report in Hindustan Times said.

According to the doctors, the patient was having symptoms similar to that of monkeypox. “There were no red marks or blisters when he got admitted. But later such symptoms started appearing on his body,” one of the doctors was quoted as saying.

Since the patient had come from the high-risk UAE, he was admitted to an isolation ward. He was suspected of being hit with tuberculosis and was sent into isolation at a hospital as tests were carried out.

The relatives said that the man had returned from the UAE three days ago and was suffering from high fever. However, red blisters started appearing on his body raising doubts of monkeypox.

The health officials, meanwhile, said that people should not panic unless the reports are out.

As per the initial reports, the man didn’t have full-blown monkeypox symptoms. So, there are chances that the report may come back negative. “Of thousands of cases reported across the world, only five deaths have been reported from monkeypox so far,” an official said.

Read all the Latest News and Breaking News here

What's your reaction?

Comments

https://lamidix.com/assets/images/user-avatar-s.jpg

0 comment

Write the first comment for this!