- Friday, April 26, 2024
By: Shubham Ghosh
THE administration of the southern Indian state of Kerala was on alert after a youth, who was affected with monkeypox, died on Saturday (30). The family of the victim, who hailed from Chavakkad Kuranjiyur in Thrissur district of Kerala, told officials that he had tested positive in a foreign country.
Kerala health minister Veena George initiated a high-level inquiry into the youth’s death. She told the media, “The result of the test conducted in the foreign country was positive. He sought treatment in Thrissur due to severe fatigue and encephalitis and Monkeypox is not a fatal disease.”
She also said that the delay in seeking treatment will be probed.
The state health department called a meeting in Punnayur in Thrissur district over the death. Officials also prepared a contact list and route map of the deceased youth and the contact persons were advised to undergo isolation.
India has so far reported five cases of monkeypox, of which three are from Kerala, one from Delhi and one from the state of Andhra Pradesh.
The Narendra Modi government is also on alert as the count of infections in some other countries also went up.
Dr V K Paul, a member of the Indian government think tank NITI Aayog, said there was no need for panic as the government has taken adequate measures to keep the disease in check.
Asian News International reported that 20 people were quarantined in Thrissur following the death. Officials said the deceased person had come in contact with “only 10 people”, including family members and friends.
“The situation is well under control, there’s no panic here as of now. The person had direct contact with only 10 people including family members and a few friends. 20 people quarantined so far,” Renjini, a member of the state’s education and health standing committee, said.
[With agency inputs]
