Explained: Second case of monkeypox confirmed in Kerala, is there a risk of an outbreak in India? | Explained News,The Indian Express

Monkeypox is a self-limiting disease with a low fatality rate. It is a well-understood condition that can be easily managed clinically. The smallpox vaccine provides long-lasting immunity that usually protects against monkeypox to a considerable degree.

A second case of monkeypox infection — in a 31-year-old man who arrived in Kannur from Dubai on July 13 — was confirmed in Kerala on Monday (July 18). The patient, who has been admitted to the government medical college hospital in Kannur, is stable, Health Minister Veena George said.

The first case of the disease was reported on July 14 — a 35-year-old person who returned from UAE. A high-level multi-disciplinary central team was sent to Kerala to collaborate with state authorities in implementing public health measures.

An alert has been sounded in all 14 districts, and help desks have been set up at all four airports in the state.

Since early May, monkeypox has been spreading rapidly around the world, mainly among gay and bisexual men, who often present with rashes in the genital and anal area that doctors may confuse with herpes or syphilis.

The WHO has said that a multi-country outbreak is currently underway, including in places where the disease has not been typically found before — in Europe, the Americas, Africa, the Western Pacific, and countries of the Eastern Mediterranean. Even in those parts of Africa where cases have been previously reported — Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic — the incidence of infection in 2022 has been higher than usual.

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/second-case-monkeypox-kerala-outbreak-india-8037348/

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