JawaPos.com – Cases of death from monkeypox patients have increased again outside endemic countries, namely Africa. After Spain reported 2 deaths from monkeypox, Brazil 1 death, now India also reported 1 first death.
A young Kerala, India, tested positive overseas. Kerala Health Minister Veena George said the 22-year-old Thrissur native had no symptoms of monkeypox. His relatives submitted test results from abroad only on Saturday (30/7).
“A young man who died in Thrissur Kerala on Saturday (30/7) tested positive for monkeypox in another state,” said state Health Minister Veena George as reported by the Indian Express, Monday (1/8).
This would be the first monkeypox death in India and the fourth outside Africa. The 22-year-old, who was from Punniyoor in Thrissur, died in a private hospital days after he returned from the UAE.
Next, the health department sent the sample to the Kerala unit of the National Institute of Virology in Alappuzha. The health minister said the young man had been diagnosed with monkeypox in tests carried out overseas, but his family members submitted the test results to hospital authorities on Saturday.
Symptoms Fever and Fatigue
The young man had no symptoms of monkeypox. He has been hospitalized with symptoms of encephalitis and fatigue.
“His relatives submitted test results only on Saturday. An investigation will be held into this death because monkeypox has a very low mortality rate,” added the Minister of Health.
Sources from the health department said the young man had arrived in Kerala from the UAE on July 22. He went about his usual activities when he got home. He plays football on the field.
On July 26, he developed a fever and sought treatment at a local hospital. Later, he was transferred to another hospital where he had to put on a breathing apparatus.
“He admitted to having taken a test in the UAE before boarding a flight to Kerala,” the source said.
The young man died on Saturday afternoon. His funeral was held according to protocol for monkeypox victims.
All of his key contacts have been placed under surveillance. India has so far confirmed 4 cases of monkeypox, three of them in Kerala. Saturday’s death would be the country’s first death from infection.
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