In the midst of the widespread scare about the spread of Monkeypox, which has been tagged as the latest global emergency, Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian has dispelled the reports that the state has recorded Monkeypox cases. While the state government has been ramping up the medical infrastructure to address the disease, the health minister has appealed to the people not to spread any misinformation regarding the disease.

Ma Subramanian on Friday - July 29 dismissed reports on four suspected cases of Monkeypox in the Kanniyakumari district. His comments have come after it was reported that these four persons have shown positive symptoms of Monkeypox and their samples were sent to the National Institute of Virology, Pune for further testing. It has also been reported that all four of them have been admitted to Asaripallam government medical college and have been isolated. 

Earlier, the Tamil Nadu government tightened surveillance at airports and check posts after neighbouring Kerala reported positive cases of Monkeypox. It must be noted that on Thursday, Subramanian said that the Union government has allowed the Tamil Nadu Health Department to conduct tests for the detection of monkeypox disease at the King Institute of Preventive Medicine and Research in Chennai instead of sending them to the National Institute of Virology. 

Speaking to the reporters after infecting a medical facility, the health minister said that the Monkeypox virus, which was first detected in the United Kingdom, has now spread to over 77 countries and nearly 20,000 people have tested positive for the disease. He said, "The World Health Organization has issued directives to protect ourselves from the virus. In India, four cases were reported from Kerala and New Delhi. In Tamil Nadu, there have been no monkeypox cases detected till date."  

The state health department has been randomly screening passengers who arrive in Tamil Nadu's four major airports from the affected countries. The health minister further said, "We have set up mass fever-screening camps and conduct saturation tests on passengers. The Indian Council of Medical Research has announced that laboratories would be set up in 15 locations from across the country to conduct tests for Monkeypox disease." 

"Instead of sending the samples to NIV, Pune, the Tamil Nadu government requested for a laboratory in the state, as one among the 15 locations announced by ICMR. Based on the request, the Centre on Wednesday allowed the King Institute of Preventive Medicine and Research to hold tests for detection of Monkeypox disease", he added.