India's second confirmed monkeypox case was also reported from Kerala Monday, when a 31-year-old native of Kannur district was found infected. He had travelled from Dubai on July 13 through the Mangaluru airport.
He approached the hospital following fever and rashes on his body. He was kept under surveillance at the Kannur government medical college hospital. Test results confirmed the infection.
Health Minister Veena George said that the man's health condition was satisfactory. All his primary contacts, which included his family members and a taxi driver who brought him from the airport, were kept under surveillance.
Meanwhile, the condition of the first infected person continued to be stable. Health department sources said that a medical board was constituted to review his condition. His samples would be tested at regular intervals to confirm that he was free from infection. None of his primary contacts were showing any symptoms.
The health minister said that help desks were set up at airports for those with symptoms. Those coming from countries where monkeypox was reported were also urged to approach health authorities in case of any symptoms.
The state government is taking steps to make available monkeypox testing facilities at laboratories in the state. Initially, test kits will be brought from the National Institute of Virology unit in Alappuzha from Pune. Thereafter, facilities would be made available in the 28 government labs, said the minister.