India reports Asia's first monkeypox death; 6 confirmed cases in country so far
India reports first case of monkeypox death, also a first in Asia. Photo: Getty Images
Alarm bells are going off in India after a 22-year-old man died of monkeypox in Kerala, making it the country's and Asia's first such death since the outbreak started in May. Questions like how is it spreading, why did the man die, how to prevent the disease, is there enough treatment, what to do and not do etc are on everyone's minds.
Here is a look at monkeypox updates from India and around the world:
India's first monkeypox death:
- Kerala confirmed that the 22-year-old man who died on July 30 had monkeypox. His test results came back positive for the disease from NIV-Pune. He had the West African strain of the virus.
- July 19: The man had tested positive for monkeypox in the UAE.
- July 22: The man reached Kerala.
The patient who died in Kerala had tested positive for Monkeypox in UAE. He arrived in India on 22nd July & was admitted to a hospital on 27th July after again testing positive for Monkeypox disease: Official sources
— ANI (@ANI) August 1, 2022 - Reportedly, the man did not have any severe symptoms and even went out to play football with friends.
- July 27: The 22-year-old was admitted to a private hospital in Thrissur for encephalitis (inflammation of the brain associated with monkeypox) and fatigue. He reportedly suffered from severe headaches and seizures after returning home from playing football.
- July 30: His parents informed his UAE test results to the hospital on the day he passed away. He was put on life support before he died.
- According to reports, the man was young and energetic and did not suffer from any known co-morbidities.
- Kerala Health Minister Veena George said that the state will conduct a thorough investigation into the matter and also find out why the family delayed seeking treatment and telling the hospital about his UAE test.
- 20 people: Categorised as high-risk in the case and are being monitored.
- The passengers who were on the same flight as the 22-year-old from UAE to Kerala have been asked to self-monitor themselves.
- The Centre has also formed a task force to closely monitor the monkeypox situation.
Centre has formed the task force to monitor #monkeypox cases in India, the team will be headed by Dr VK Paul, Member (Health), Niti Aayog and members include Secretary of Union Health Ministry, Pharma and Biotech: Sources
— ANI (@ANI) July 31, 2022
Other cases in India:
- 6 - Confirmed cases in India
- 4 - Kerala
- 2- Delhi
#Monkeypox is an infectious viral disease. Follow the guidelines given to keep yourself safe from infection.
— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) August 2, 2022
Visit https://t.co/4uKjkY53cL to learn more. pic.twitter.com/XWBJq8dCWn
In the latest, a 35-year-old Nigerian man in Delhi has tested positive for the disease. The other case from Delhi is a 31-year-old man with no travel history. He is said to be in a stable condition.
All four cases from Kerala had a travel history to the UAE. The first patient of monkeypox in India - reported in Kerala - has made a full recovery and has been discharged from the hospital. The other two patients in the state are also said to be in stable condition.
An 8-year-old boy who was suspected to have monkeypox in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh tested negative for the disease.
There are a few other suspected cases of monkeypox reported in India. One has been reported in Rajasthan.
A glimpse at the worldwide statistics for monkeypox (as of July 29, according to the US CDC):
The #monkeypox outbreak has seen more than 22,000 cases in nearly 80 countries since May. India has reported the first death in as many days from monkeypox. A 22-year-old man in Kerala's Thrissur had tested positive in the UAE. #DIU | @DipuJourno pic.twitter.com/j9wwyzMHM5
— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) August 1, 2022
- 23,620 - Number of monkeypox cases reported in the world
- 73 - Countries that have historically not reported monkeypox cases
- 80 - Countries in total
- Ghana reported its first death in the current outbreak on Monday, August 1, 2022.
- 4 - Deaths reported outside of Africa including India's first death but excluding Ghana's death.
- 75 - Deaths reported in Africa