Suspected case of monkeypox reported in Karnataka

Bengaluru: An Ethiopian national with symptoms of monkeypox has been quarantined at a private hospital here, the Karnataka health department said. His samples have been sent to Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute laboratory for confirmation and reports are awaited.

Karnataka Health Commissioner D Randeep in a statement said, the Ethiopian national is a Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patient, who came to Bengaluru from Addiss Ababa on July 4, 2022 for kidney transplantation, which was registered in the Aster CMI hospital.

"On July 25, he developed rash on left hand. He had itching too. On Tuesday it started spreading all over his body (vesicular rash) and while itching blood and fluid was coming as informed by his translator," he said. Even though rashes were seen all over his body, it was more seen on the back. He came for dialysis today and the doctors noted these rashes and suspected it to be Monkey Pox. The other symptoms are nausea, headache and malaise. The sample has been collected and transported to Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute laboratory. The person has seven primary contacts and 11 secondary contacts till July 27 at 8 pm. He added that along with the patient, his cousin sister, who is the donor and his elder brother also accompanied him.

Before coming to India he was staying with his elder brother at Addis Ababa for about a month, the official said adding, he was not in contact with any of his family members except his brother and cousin. The patient has been quarantined, he said. Meanwhile, Health Minister K Sudhakar told reporters here that there was no need for people to panic as it is not a deadly disease. "There is no need to panic due to monkeypox. Of course, we need to take some precautionary measures. Even if it comes, there is treatment available for it. It does not lead to deaths. Death is highly unlikely," Sudhakar, who himself is a medical professional, said. He said the disease belongs to the smallpox family. Those who have taken vaccines will not show major symptoms.