A monkeypox patient in Delhi is doing well and has no fever,
news agency PTI reported, citing people familiar with the matter. According to
the report, the 34-year-old man, who tested positive for monkeypox, has
injuries that will take at least a week to fully heal. Until then, the patient
remains in the isolation ward set up at the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP)
Hospital.
At least 13 people who came into contact with the patient
have been traced and are showing no symptoms, health ministry officials said.
Contacts include family members, the doctor who treated him, and his
caregivers. The family members, who are now in isolation at their West Delhi
residence, have been asked to monitor their symptoms themselves.
Meanwhile, Delhi Governor VK Saxena has directed officials
to ensure that all precautionary measures are put in place and urged people not
to panic.
"Monkey pox situation in Delhi reviewed with CS, Secy
Health, DGHS and other stakeholders. Informed about preparedness in terms of
medical services, hospital infrastructure, surveillance, testing, surveillance
and clinical management. Recommended officials will take care of all
precautionary measures, Saxena said in a series of tweets. "I am asking
people not to panic and to follow all prescribed prevention and treatment
protocols."
The Delhi government has directed all district magistrates
and hospital authorities to follow the guidelines issued by the center to deal
with suspected and confirmed cases of monkeypox.
"... it is mandatory for all health facilities to
report every case of suspected monkeypox to the concerned District Surveillance
Unit. The ward at Lok Nayak Hospital is reserved for isolation of
suspected/confirmed cases of monkeypox, therefore every case should be referred
and isolated to Lok Hospital Nayak in coordination with District Surveillance
Officers,” it said.
“All district surveillance units should ensure enhanced
health facility-based surveillance for monkeypox, followed by necessary
community interventions as directed,” the issued guidelines said. at the
Directorate General of Health Services, Delhi.
India has so far reported four cases of monkeypox – three
from Kerala and one from Delhi. The case identified in Delhi has no foreign
travel history. However, she traveled to Himachal Pradesh with her male friends
on June 26 and developed fever on July 5, according to health department
officials.
"These eruptions started getting worse and turned into
full blown skin lesions. They first appeared on her abdomen, chest, arms and
also on her palms. Now she has no fever and the skin lesions have healed. Also.
His vitals are also normal." , a senior doctor at the hospital told HT,
requesting anonymity. "Only one patient was admitted to isolation today.
The symptoms of people who came in contact with him are being monitored by the
authorities, but we do not know who is showing symptoms,” said another doctor
at Lok Nayak Hospital - the nodal facility for monkeypox in the state capital.