Monkeypox in India: Nigerian woman in Delhi tests positive, govt holds meeting as tally reaches 9

"She was admitted at the LNJP Hospital on Tuesday. The woman is in a stable condition at present," a source said, adding, "There is no information about her travelling abroad recently."

(Credit: Ministry of Health Affairs)

With the growing threat of monkeypox, the Centre held a meeting of top health experts on Thursday. L Swasticharan, director of Emergency Medical Relief (EMR), chaired the meet in which the experts discussed the need for revisiting existing guidelines on management of monkeypox.

So far, Delhi has four monkeypox cases. The first case had recovered from the disease and was discharged from the LNJP Hospital on Monday. Two other monkeypox patients, also Nigerians, are being treated at the hospital.

In the wake rising monkeypox cases, the Delhi government has set up a total of 70 isolation rooms in government and private hospitals. Sharing the details of arrangements, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said 20 isolation rooms have been set up in Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital, 10 each in GTB hospital, Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital, Kailash Deepak Hospital, MD City Hospital, and Tughlaqabad’s Batra Hospital.

Apart from Delhi, Kerala is another state where monkeypox cases have been reported. There are five cases in the state so far. Out of these five, one succumbed to the infections.

(Credit: Ministry of Health Affairs)

The World Health Organisation (WHO) had declared monkeypox a global public health emergency of international concern. According to the global health body, monkeypox is a viral zoonosis -- a virus transmitted to humans from animals -- with symptoms similar to smallpox although clinically less severe.