MALAPPURAM: Health Minister Veena George on Tuesday confirmed that a resident of Othayi in Malappuram has been admitted to the Manjeri Government Medical College Hospital (MCH) with suspected Mpox (monkeypox) symptoms.
The man, 38, had returned to Malappuram from Dubai a week ago. Health officials in Malappuram have sent his samples to Kozhikode Government MCH for further testing, and the results are awaited.
According to the Health Minister, he had quarantined himself at home after noticing symptoms resembling those of Mpox. He had developed bumps on his skin.
“He used a separate room and bathroom at home to prevent the infection from spreading to others,” Veena said.
Mpox is a viral disease belonging to the same family as smallpox. Scientists first identified it in 1958 and was detected in lab monkeys used for research purposes.
The disease is most prevalent in Central and West Africa. However, in May 2022, health authorities reported an outbreak in multiple regions beyond Africa.
The virus can spread from person to person through close physical contact. An infected individual can pass it to others through exposure to body fluids, such as blood or semen. It can also be transmitted via direct contact with skin lesions caused by Mpox or by inhaling respiratory droplets from an infected person.