A 38-year-old man from Edavanna, Malappuram district, who returned to Kerala from Dubai last week, tested positive for Mpox, according to health minister Veena George on Wednesday. Health officials reported that the man visited the outpatient department of the Government Medical College Hospital in Manjeri on September 16, displaying symptoms of fever and skin rashes.

Doctors, suspecting the symptoms resembled those of the infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV), admitted the man to the hospital’s isolation ward and informed the health department.

His fluid samples were sent for testing at the microbiology lab of Kozhikode Medical College Hospital, and the results came back positive on Wednesday.

“The patient remains in the hospital’s isolation wing and is in stable condition,” said a district health official.

The official also noted that a preliminary contact list has been prepared, and those identified have been instructed to isolate and monitor for any symptoms.

Anvar KT, a ward member of Edavanna panchayat where the patient lives, said the 38-year-old had returned from Dubai on September 12.

“The following day, he visited a local clinic for symptoms of fever and skin rashes. During the Onam celebrations over the weekend, he reportedly met with a few friends, all of whom have now been instructed to isolate. When his fever and rashes persisted, he went to the Government Medical College Hospital in Manjeri,” said Anvar.

Medical teams are expected to visit the panchayat on Thursday for surveillance and additional measures.

State health minister Veena George emphasized that individuals returning from abroad who develop symptoms should promptly inform the health department and seek treatment. She noted that treatment and isolation facilities are available at 14 government hospitals and all medical colleges in the state, while sharing contact details of nodal medical officers on her official social media platforms.

The minister urged the public to remain alert following the detection of the Mpox case, noting that surveillance at all state airports had been enhanced in line with union government guidelines due to the global increase in infections.

“The state issued a standard operating procedure (SOP) when the first Mpox case was reported in 2022. We have ensured isolation, treatment, and sample collection facilities in accordance with the SOP. All government and private hospitals are required to follow these protocols,” she emphasized.

On September 7, a resident of Hisar, Haryana, was confirmed as Mpox-positive and isolated at a tertiary care facility in Delhi. The union health ministry had described this as an isolated case, similar to the 30 cases reported in India since July 2022.

The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies the monkeypox virus as an enveloped, double-stranded DNA virus from the Orthopoxvirus genus, with two distinct clades. A global outbreak of clade IIb began in 2022 and is ongoing. The virus primarily spreads through close contact between individuals, with common symptoms including fever, sore throat, headache, swollen lymph nodes, and muscle aches.