Kerala: India has recorded its first death of a patient who had tested positive for monkeypox.
A high-level team will investigate the case, according to Health Minister Veena George. As death due to monkeypox was rare, that too of a 22-year-old youth, detailed investigation had to be done in the case, she said on Sunday. It should be investigated why there was a delay in seeking treatment for the youth even though he arrived on July 21.
The state health department has sent his samples to the National Institute of Virology’s Alappuzha unit in Kerala.
The 22-year-old man, native of Punniyoor in Thrissur, who died on Saturday, had returned to Kerala on 21 July and was admitted to a private hospital on 27 July after he developed encephalitis and fever, besides which his lymph nodes were swollen. As per reports the man had tested positive during his stay in the Arab country, however his family revealed the details on Saturday.
After the youth died Saturday afternoon, his burial was held as per the protocol for the disease. All his primary contacts have been put under observation right from his arrival in the country.
Senior Union health ministry official said people should not panic till the man’s reports are out. “We should not jump the gun yet. Let his reports come back. From initial reports, he did not have full-blown monkeypox symptoms. So, there is a good chance that the report comes back negative,” the official said, requesting anonymity. “Of thousands of cases reported across the world, only five deaths have been reported from monkeypox so far”.