Delhi reports its 5th case of monkeypox

Delhi confirmed another case of monkeypox on Saturday after a 22- year- old woman of African origin tested positive for the infection at the Delhi government’s Lok Nayak hospital. With the latest case, Delhi’s monkeypox tally has risen to five, while the national tally has risen to 10.

Senior doctors at the hospital said that the woman unlike previous cases reported in the Capital had travelled to Africa a month ago.

Dr Suresh Kumar, medical director, Lok Nayak Hospital, which is the nodal hospital for monkeypox in the Capital, confirmed that the woman of African descent was admitted to the hospital with typical monkeypox symptoms including high fever and rashes on the skin. Her samples were sent for testing, which returned positive on Friday.

“The woman is a resident of south Delhi and had travelled to Africa a month back. Her condition is stable and our team of doctors are keeping a close watch on her symptoms,” said Dr Kumar.

Doctors at Lok Nayak Hospital also said that currently three patients are admitted to the hospital’s isolation facility apart from the 22- year- old woman—a 35-year-old man, a 31-year-old man and a 31-yearold woman. All three are Nigerian nationals and do not have a history of foreign travel.

Dr Kumar clarified that while this patient is also an African national, she is not a contact of the other monkeypox patients, who are currently admitted to the hospital’s isolation wing and tested positive on different dates over the last few weeks.

The first monkeypox case in India was reported from Kerala’s Kollam district on July 14.