Karnataka Government Reassures Public Regarding Monkeypox Case
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Synopsis
The Karnataka government confirms the first case of Monkeypox in the country, involving a 40-year-old male from Mangaluru. The patient, recently returned from Dubai, is in stable condition. Authorities emphasize that MPox is generally mild and encourage vigilance without panic.
Key Takeaways
- First case of MPox in India confirmed.
- Patient is stable and recovering.
- Public advised not to panic.
- Symptoms include rashes, fever, headaches.
- MPox spreads through close contact.
Bengaluru, Jan 23 (NationPress) A case of Monkeypox (MPox) was confirmed on 22nd January 2025 by the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune in a 40-year-old male from Mangaluru, originally from Karkala in Udupi district, as reported by an official from the Karnataka Department of Health and Family Welfare.
The official noted that the patient, who has lived in Dubai for the last 19 years, returned to Mangalore on January 17.
“Upon his return, he displayed symptoms of rashes and had a fever two days earlier. He was immediately isolated in a private hospital, with his MPox samples sent to Bangalore Medical College (BMC) and subsequently to NIV, Pune,” he said.
The patient is in stable condition and does not suffer from any severe complications.
“He is expected to be discharged soon. His 36-year-old wife, who met him at the airport, has been recognized as a primary contact and advised to isolate for a few days to monitor any symptom development,” he added.
A government statement indicated that generally, MPox is a mild self-limiting illness for most individuals, except for certain immunocompromised patients with co-morbidities who need to be more cautious. Treatment typically involves symptom management, such as medication for fever, body aches, antibiotics for secondary infections from affected lesions/rashes, along with ensuring adequate hydration, nutrition, and rest.
Moreover, MPox usually spreads only through very close and intimate contact, and its infectivity is significantly lower than that of Covid-19.
The public is urged not to panic regarding this reported case, given the mild nature of the disease and its reduced infectivity. However, individuals should remain vigilant for common symptoms associated with MPox, such as skin rashes, fever, headache, muscle aches, chills, sweating, sore throat, and cough, and seek testing if they have traveled to high-risk nations or had close contact with MPox cases.
Currently, there are no advisories or special instructions from the Central Government regarding mandatory testing for travelers from abroad.
While a vaccine for MPox exists, it is generally recommended for high-risk groups like healthcare workers. However, the Central Government is not currently recommending it due to the very low number of detected MPox cases, according to the release.
Sources indicate that this marks the first case of MPox in the country.
