Monkeypox not a new disease’: Health minister allays concerns in Parliament

Union health minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday allayed concerns in parliament shortly after India registered its seventh case of monkeypox. Kerala on Tuesday recorded a new case, taking the tally to five.

However, assuring that India was taking a step-by-step approach, Dr Mandaviya said the disease “is not new”. “Monkeypox is not a new disease in India and in the world. Since 1970, a lot of cases are being seen in the world from Africa. The WHO (World Health Organization) has paid special attention to this. Monitoring has started in India also,” he said.