Earlier in the day, a man from Kerala was tested positive. He is being treated at a hospital in Kannur where his condition is stable.
New Delhi: Amid reports of two cases of Monkeypox disease from Kerala, Centre on Monday asked strict screening at all entry points in the country. The government, after a high level meeting, instructed airports to conduct screening of international passengers to contain spread of the diseases in the country.
The Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare reviewed the functioning of health screening of international travellers arriving in India at airports and ports.
The meeting was attended by Airport and Port Health Officers (APHOs/PHOs) and Regional Directors from Regional Offices of Health & Family Welfare. They were advised to ensure strict health screening of all arriving international travellers which can minimize the risk of importation of monkeypox cases into the country.
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They were advised and re-oriented in clinical presentation of monkeypox disease as per MoHFW’s ‘Guidelines for Management of Monkeypox Disease’.
They were also advised to coordinate with other stakeholder agencies like Immigration at international ports and airports to streamline health screening processes besides ensuring suitable linkages with hospital facilities earmarked to each port of entry for timely referral and isolation. The meeting was attended by senior officials from International Health Division, and Disaster Management Cell.
Earlier in the day, a man from Kerala was tested positive. He is being treated at a hospital in Kannur where his condition is stable.
Last week, India’s first case of monkeypox was reported in Kerala who had reached the capital of the state three days back from the UAE. While a team from the Centre had rushed to Kerala, people who had come in contact with the 35-year-old man were warned.
Also Read: WHO lists out ways to prevent monkeypox, restriction on animal trade is one of them
The team from the Centre had comprised experts from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr RML Hospital, New Delhi and senior officials from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare along with experts from the Regional Office of Health and Family Welfare of Kerala.
