Tamil Nadu on high alert for suspected Monkeypox cases

Monkeypox that occurs primarily in tropical rainforest areas of Central and West Africa is occasionally exported to other regions.

Chennai: Tamil Nadu government on Monday directed the district Collectors and Commissioners of Corporations to monitor and identify suspected cases of monkeypox, if any, and isolate them at healthcare facilities for appropriate treatment. Asking the officials to watch out for any symptoms among the people on this viral zoonotic disease, State Health and Family Welfare Principal Secretary Dr J Radhakrishnan said those who have travelled in the last 21 days to a country that has recently confirmed or suspected cases of the monkeypox should be monitored.

"All suspected cases should be isolated at designated healthcare facilities and the cases should be reported to the District Surveillance Officer of Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme," he said. Issuing a set of instruction to the senior officials, he said all infection-control practices should be followed while treating such patients.