After the detection of the second monkeypox case in India, the Centre on Monday asked ports and airports to ramp up health screening of all international travellers. In a meeting attended by Airport and Port Health Officers (APHOs/PHOs) and regional directors from regional offices of Health and Family Welfare, the Centre asked them to streamline health screening processes besides ensuring suitable linkages with hospital facilities earmarked to each port of entry for timely referral and isolation.
"They were advised to ensure strict health screening of all arriving international travellers which can minimize the risk of importation of monkeypox cases into the country. They were advised and re-oriented in clinical presentation of monkeypox disease as per MoHFW's 'Guidelines for Management of Monkeypox Disease'," a statement by the government said.
They were also advised to coordinate with other stakeholder agencies like immigration at international ports and airports. The meeting was also attended by senior officials from International Health Division and Disaster Management Cell.
Earlier in the day, Kerala Health Minister Veena George said a 31-year old man who arrived in the state last week from Dubai had tested positive for monkeypox. The first case of monkeypox was reported from Kollam district of south Kerala on July 14.
On the recent case, George said the patient, who arrived in Kerala on July 13, was a native of Kannur and was undergoing treatment at the Pariyaram Medical College there. "His health is stable," she said.
The minister's office said the state government was taking strong measures to prevent the spread of the disease.
"Help desks have been set up at all international airports and surveillance has been intensified. If any of the passengers show symptoms of infection, they will be safely taken to isolation centres for testing and specialist treatment," the statement said.
Monkeypox is a rare zoonotic disease (a virus transmitted to humans from animals) caused by infection from monkeypox virus, and does not spread easily between people. The symptoms of monkeypox include a high fever, swollen lymph nodes and chickenpox-like rash.