Suspected monkeypox patient shifted to Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: A suspected monkeypox case is referred to Government Fever Hospital in the city from district headquarters town of Kamareddi.

According to Dr G Srinivas Rao, Director, Health, Government of Telangana, a 40-year-old person belonging to Indiranagar in Kamareddi town showed signs of monkeypox. He came to Kamareddi from Kuwait on July 6. He developed fever on July 20, and noticed rashes on his body on Saturday. Soon he consulted a private hospital in the town.

The doctors suspected it to be monkeypox and referred the patient to Government District Hospital. Deputy DM&HO Dr Shobha Rani said the patient was referred to Fever Hospital in hyderabad. 

Dr Srinivas Rao said that the patient, on being shifted to Hyderabad in a 108 ambulance, would be subjected to investigations.

Samples would be collected and sent to National Institute Virology (NIV), Pune.

He would be kept in isolation ward in the Fever Hospital and treated.

The Medical & Health department officials had identified six primary contacts of the patient. None of them had any symptoms of monkeypox. However, even they were isolated as a measure of precaution, said Dr Rao.

Minister for Medical & Health T Harish Rao was reviewing the situation from time to time and extending necessary help.

Dr Srinivas Rao assured the people that they need not worry about monkeypox as it was not a dreadful disease.

In fact, Harish Rao had reviewed the situation a few days ago and geared up the Medical and Health department to meet the challenge of monkeypox, if surfaced anywhere in Telangana. Accordingly, an exclusive isolation ward was set up in the Government Fever Hospital.