No cases of monkeypox reported in Tamil Nadu, says health minister

 After India reported the first case of monkeypox in Kerala, the state health minister Ma Subramaniam on Saturday said that no cases of monkeypox have been reported in the state.

Speaking to media persons after inspecting the precautionary measures taken at Chennai International airport, the minister said, "no cases of monkeypox have been reported in Tamil Nadu, as of now. 

However, the cases are drastically increasing in America, Africa and other European countries."Pointing out that four people who had returned from middle east countries to Thiruvananthapuram were infected with monkeypox, he said that the state government has taken precautionary measures and intensified surveillance at the airport. 

"The authorities were advised to check the passengers returning to the state from 63 foreign countries. If any of the passengers have boils on the visible parts of the body, thermal screening would be done for them," he added.He further said, "The state government would also take steps to establish a dedicated centre for the infection and we have requested the union government for the same.

" Advising the publicnot to panic, he said that the centre would be set up within 15 days with the help of ICMR. Speaking about the chief minister MK Stalin who is infected with Covid-19, he said that the chief minister's health condition has improved and he is under rest as per the advice of the doctors.