Delhi Reports Its Fifth Monkeypox Case, African Woman With Travel History To Nigeria Tests Positive

Monkeypox Cases: A 22-year-old African woman with a travel history to Nigeria has tested positive for monkeypox in Delhi.

Representative Photo | Earlier, a 31-year-old Nigerian woman in Delhi was found infected with monkeypox. This was the fourth person found infected with monkeypox in Delhi. ( Image Source :PTI )

New Delhi: The national capital on Saturday reported its fifth monkeypox case as a 22-year-old African woman with a travel history to Nigeria tested positive for the viral infection, news agency PTI reported official sources as saying.

Earlier, a 31-year-old Nigerian woman in Delhi was found infected with monkeypox. This was the fourth person detected with monkeypox infection in Delhi and also the first woman in the country to test positive for it.

Medical Director of Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital Dr Suresh Kumar said that the sample of a 22-year-old woman tested positive on Friday and she is currently under observation in the hospital.

"One patient has been admitted in LNJP and her sample tested positive, at present 4 patients are admitted and one has been discharged. Total five cases of Monkey pox has been reported in Delhi. She came positive yesterday. Team of doctors are treating her," Dr Kumar told news agency ANI. 

Delhi confirmed its first case of monkeypox on July 24 this year, a day after it was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization.

The Union government has released a host of guidelines to check the virus spread in India, including SOPs for the entry points to the country. International passengers have been advised to avoid close contact with sick persons, dead or live wild animals, and others.

The first case of monkeypox in India was reported from Kerala's Kollam district on July 14.

According to the World Health Organization, monkeypox is a viral zoonosis (a virus transmitted to humans from animals), with symptoms similar to those seen in the past in smallpox patients, although it is found to be clinically less severe.

(With Agency Inputs)