Kerala has raised public health concerns following the confirmation of its first mpox case of the year. A 38-year-old man from Edavanna in Malappuram district has become India’s second reported case of mpox in 2024. This comes just two days after the district also reported a Nipah virus case, which resulted in the death of a postgraduate student, raising the state’s total Nipah-related fatalities to 22.
In response, Kerala’s health department has urged the public to stay vigilant and released a list of hospitals prepared for treatment and isolation to reassure residents. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently classified mpox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, further heightening the alert in the region.
Health Minister Veena George assured that Kerala’s proactive measures, including the identification of designated hospitals, reflect the government’s preparedness to manage the situation. The infected individual, who returned from Dubai on September 13, 2024, is currently receiving treatment at Manjeri Medical College Hospital and is in stable condition.
The patient sought medical care on September 16 after developing a high fever and visible blisters. His samples were sent for testing, and on September 18, the virology lab at Kozhikode Medical College confirmed the mpox diagnosis.
District medical officer R Renuka stated, “The contact list includes family members, plane passengers, and those who were with him in the district after his arrival. They have been instructed to stay in home isolation and report any symptoms to health authorities.” Health officials have traced 16 contacts, all of whom are currently under home isolation, with no symptoms reported so far.
In response, local authorities in Edavanna have set up rapid response teams to deliver food and essential supplies to those in isolation.
The patient, who had initially self-quarantined at home suspecting chickenpox, had limited contact with others, lowering the chances of further transmission. His wife and children, who were staying elsewhere, are not included in the contact list. Renuka confirmed that the man’s condition is improving, with reports of his rashes healing.
India’s first mpox case this year was reported just ten days ago, involving a 26-year-old man from Hisar, Haryana, who was hospitalized in Delhi after showing symptoms like skin rashes and red boils. Both cases, in Haryana and Kerala, were identified as infections of the mpox virus clade 2, which typically causes less severe symptoms.
Samples from the Malappuram patient have been sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune for further analysis.
“Once we receive the report from Pune, we’ll have a clearer understanding of the situation. We also plan to speak with the patient to determine how he contracted the infection, but that will happen after he fully recovers,” the district medical officer stated.
State Health Minister Veena George reassured the public, emphasizing that contact tracing is almost complete and the patient is receiving the necessary care. “There is no need for concern. Surveillance teams have been stationed at all state airports, following central guidelines. Travelers arriving from countries where mpox has been reported are advised to report any symptoms upon arrival,” she said.
Standard operating procedures, including isolation protocols, sample collection, and treatment, have been in place since 2022. Health Minister Veena George has instructed both government and private hospitals to adhere strictly to these guidelines if a patient presents with mpox symptoms.
Senior health officials have emphasized that the chances of an mpox outbreak escalating into a pandemic in India are low. However, drawing on the lessons learned from COVID-19, Kerala is staying vigilant and is closely monitoring any developments related to the virus.
Mpox is transmitted from animals to humans through contact with the blood, fluids, or lesions of infected animals. Human symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes, and a rash, which often begins on the face. Various animals, including squirrels and monkeys, can carry the virus, posing a risk to those in forested areas. Human-to-human transmission occurs through contact with infected lesions, bodily fluids, respiratory droplets, or through sexual contact.
