THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Steps have been taken to shift more people coming in the contact list of the Kollam resident confirmed of monkey pox under observation. Eleven people who travelled with the youth have been found. His parents, taxi-auto drivers, doctors of the private hospital, nurses etc who are in the contact list have been directed to be under observation at their homes and get tested immediately if they have symptoms.

The central government is closely observing the situation in Kerala. A four-member central team will reach the state today for preventive measures. Advisor to the Ministry of Health Dr P Ravindran, Dr Sanket Kulkarni, Dr Arvind Kumar and Dr Akhilesh Tok are in the team.

Monkey pox was confirmed on the 35-year-old, a native of Kollam Wadi Jonakappuram who came from the UAE. This is the first case in the country. He is being treated at the infectious diseases department of Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital.

The youth arrived at the Thiruvananthapuram airport on Tuesday. The youth who reached Kollam in a taxi, seeing blisters similar to chicken pox on his body, called his parents without entering the house and went straight to a private hospital in an auto. He had fever, severe headache and body pain. He expressed his suspicions to the doctor that he is likely to contract monkey pox as his roommate in the UAE was diagnosed of the virus. He was soon sent to Paripally Medical College. From there, he was brought to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital at 11 pm. The blood samples were sent to Pune Institute of Virology after identifying the similarity with monkey pox. He was confirmed of monkey pox in the results obtained last evening.