India’s first case of monkeypox has died. A 22-year-old youth died in Kerala on July 30. He returned from United Arab Emirates. His sample was sent for testing. Monkeypox positive report was found in that sample on Monday. Samples were sent to NIV Pune for testing.
The relatives of the deceased claimed that they did not know that the young man had returned to the country after receiving a positive report. They came to know about this last July 30. The patient died on the same day.
The central government has created a special task force to control monkeypox in India. It is headed by Dr. VK Paul and Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan and other experts.
Kerala Health Minister Veena George told a press conference on Monday, ‘That person came on July 21. Came in contact with family and friends. There were symptoms like abnormal seizures, shortness of breath. But he had no blisters or rash. Initially he came in contact with 20 people. They include health workers, family and friends.’
Genome sequencing has been done
The variant is West African. In UAE it is the A2 variant. Samples sent for genome sequencing. A team has been formed to determine why he was treated so late and the cause of death. This is what the Kerala Health Minister said.
The young man came to India on July 21. Since then he spent 6 days with his family. He was admitted to a private hospital in Thrissur on July 27. Earlier on July 19, his sample was collected in the United Arab Emirates.
Kerala’s health minister said, ‘The deceased from Thrissur, a day before returning to India, got a positive report of monkeypox in the United Arab Emirates.’ But it is claimed that the young man did not tell that at home.
The patient was young. There were no other illnesses or health problems. And that is why the health department is investigating the cause of his death, said the health minister.
Read more: Monkeypox or Chickenpox: Monkeypox or Chickenpox, which one happened? How to recognize the symptoms
Can the infection spread?
This particular variant of monkeypox is not as highly viral or contagious as Covid. However, it is likely to spread. But the relief is that, comparatively, the mortality rate of this variant is low.
According to WHO, monkeypox is a viral zoonosis. That is, it is a virus that is transmitted from animals to humans. Although less life-threatening, it can cause distressing symptoms similar to smallpox.