Ghaziabad girl tests negative for monkeypox

The Ghaziabad health department on Tuesday said that a minor girl, believed to be suffering from monkeypox, has tested negative for the disease

The Ghaziabad health department on Tuesday said that a minor girl, believed to be suffering from monkeypox, has tested negative for the disease. A private hospital on June 3 suspected that she contracted the virus after lesions were spotted on her body.

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“Samples were collected and sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune. We have received the reports, and the minor has tested negative for any traces of monkeypox,” said Dr Rakesh Kumar Gupta, district surveillance officer.

“We issued a communication on June 3 to the attending doctor and staff at the hospital who came in contact with the girl, asking them to self-isolate for a period of 21 days. We also asked for a list of the staff. The communication was in accordance with directives issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on May 31,” Dr Gupta added.

A copy of the communication is available with HT. The private hospital authorities did not respond to calls from the newspaper.

According to the World Health Organization, Monkeypox is a viral zoonosis (a virus transmitted to humans from animals) with symptoms like those seen in the past in smallpox patients - fever, an extensive characteristic rash, and swollen lymph nodes.