Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Wednesday informed the media th༺at two pat𒀰ients in the southern state have tested positive for Mpox.
Both of the patients are men, who recently returned to Kerala from the Un♐ited Ara൲b Emirates (UAE) and their tests came positive for the disease.
In response to the cases, the Health Depaওrtment has instructed those who came into contact with the patients to monitor themselves for symptoms and report any signs of illness promptly.
A state-level Rapid Response Team (RRT), convened under the Health ꦗMinister, held a meeting to assess the situation and issued directives to arrange additional isolation facilities.
George in her statement mentioned that one of the men who is a resident of Wayanad dis🉐trict, was initially found to be infected, w🧸hile the second individual, from Kannur, tested positive later.
Both patients ar൩e currently undergoing treatment at Pariyaram Medical College in Kannur.
Their conꦗtact tracing details and movement history will be published soon, the statement added.
Accoridng to the advisory declared by the state's Health Ministery, the travellers arriving from abroad who develop symptoms have been advised to isolate themselves and infor𓂃m the health depa🤪rtment immediately.
Awareness campaigns, including those at airports🤪, have been intensified. Vulnerable groups such as the elderly, pregnant women, and children have been urged to exercise𒅌 extra caution.
Kerala had reported a few Mpox ca💃ses in September this year, following the global outbreak of t🔯he disease.
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 ꧙recover with supportive medical care and management.
It is transmitted through p♏rolonged and close𒀰 contact with an infected patient.
Mpox typically mani༒fests itself with fever, rash and swollen lymph nodes and may lead to a range of medical complications.
According to WHO, Congo is already plagued by the mpox epidemജic, with more than 47,000 suspected cases and over 1,000 suspecte﷽d deaths from the disease in the Central African country.
