Thu Jan 23 15:59:13 UTC 2025: ## First Case of Monkeypox Confirmed in Karnataka
**Mangaluru, Karnataka, January 24, 2025** – Karnataka has reported its first case of monkeypox. A 40-year-old man, a resident of Dubai who recently returned to India, tested positive for the virus after exhibiting symptoms upon arrival at Mangaluru International Airport on January 17th.
The patient, a resident of Karkala taluk in Udupi district, was immediately isolated at a private hospital in Mangaluru. Samples were sent to the Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute and then to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune, which confirmed the diagnosis on January 22nd. According to health officials, the patient is stable and expected to be discharged soon.
His 36-year-old wife, who met him at the airport, is considered a primary contact and is under observation. Authorities are urging the public not to panic, emphasizing that monkeypox is generally mild and self-limiting. They advise seeking medical attention if symptoms such as skin rashes, fever, headache, muscle aches, and chills appear, particularly for individuals with recent travel history to high-risk countries or close contact with infected persons.
Treatment focuses on managing symptoms with medication for fever and body aches, antibiotics for secondary infections, and ensuring proper hydration, nutrition, and rest. Officials stressed that monkeypox spreads primarily through close contact and is less contagious than COVID-19. Currently, there are no government advisories mandating testing for international travelers.
First Piper 