Second Monkeypox Case In Delhi, Nigerian Man Tests Positive For Infection

Monkeypox in Delhi: This takes the total number of monkeypox cases in the country to six.

International passengers being screened at the airport following detection of a monkeypox case in neighbouring Kerala ( Image Source :PTI )

Delhi reported its second monkeypox case on Monday after a 35-year-old Nigerian man, having no recent history of foreign travel, tested positive for the infection, PTI reported. This takes the total number of monkeypox cases in the country to six. India has registered one monkeypox death.

The Nigerian national is admitted to the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital, the nodal hospital for treatment of monkeypox in Delhi. The person has blisters and fever for the last five days, PTI reported.

The samples of the Nigerian man came out positive for monkeypox after it was sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune.

Moreover, two more suspected monkeypox patients of African origin have been admitted to the LNJP Hospital.

Earlier in the day, samples of a 22-year-old man, who died in Kerala on July 30, came out positive for monkeypox. The man had recently returned from the UAE. The Kerala government has initiated a high-level inquiry into the death of a 22-year-old, who hailed from Payyanur in Kerala's Thrissur district.

Meanwhile, to closely monitor the emerging monkeypox situation in the country, the Centre has constituted a task force, which will be headed by Dr VK Paul, NITI Aayog member (health). The task force will decide on response initiatives to tackle the spread of the disease and provide guidance to the government on expansion of diagnostic facilities in the country, PTI reported.

The Centre has asked National Aids Control Organisation and the Directorate General of Health Services to work on a targeted communication strategy to promote timely reporting, detection of cases and management of cases.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently declared monkeypox a global public health emergency of international concern. Globally, over 16,000 cases of monkeypox have been reported from 75 countries.

Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease -- a virus transmitted to humans from animals -- with symptoms similar to smallpox although clinically less severe.

The common symptoms of monkeypox are fever, rash and swollen lymph nodes. It is usually a self-limiting disease with symptoms lasting for two to four weeks.