BENGALURU: All 33 individuals from Karnataka who were considered contacts of a 31-year-old man from Kannur in Kerala - the country's second monkeypox patient - are asymptomatic as of Wednesday, health department officials said.
Another suspected case of monkeypox tested negative in Bengaluru. A 36-year-old woman who showed similar symptoms of fatigue and rashes, among other things, had got herself tested in a private hospital. The woman's samples were sent to ICMR NIV Pune and on Tuesday, her results turned out to be negative for the virus.
The Kannur man is the second reported case of monkeypox in the country and he had arrived at Mangaluru International Airport from Dubai on July 13. He travelled to Kannur in a private vehicle and on July 15 showed symptoms of the virus. He was soon admitted to a medical college hospital there.
On July 19, officials in Karnataka were informed about him testing positive for monkeypox.
A senior health official told TOI that since then passengers sitting closest to him on the flight remained under home supervision till August 3 (for 21 days). "While 10 of them are from Dakshina Kannada, eight from Udupi and 15 from Kasargod. All of them are asymptomatic," said the official.
As per protocol, only those who show symptoms like rashes, fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, fatigue and swollen lymph nodes are tested for the virus.
"Our staff call them every day and even the war room is checking up on them. They have been asked to report if they show any symptoms. We have traced everyone and there is nothing to worry as of now," the official said.
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