NOIDA: The samples of two suspected monkeypox cases tested negative on Friday, ruling out the viral infection for all four patients in NCR who had symptoms similar to the disease. Gautam Budh Nagar health department officials said they had sent the sample of a 47-year-old man, who lives in Noida’s Sector 126, to the King George Medical University in Lucknow. The test results were negative.
“The patient had a fever for the last five days with rashes on his body. He was advised home isolation, with basic medication to control the fever,” said district chief medical officer Dr Sunil Sharma.
The test report of a 28-year-old from Parthala in Ghaziabad also tested negative on Friday evening, officials said. The man, whose samples were sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune, had been in home isolation since July 26. Officials said they suspect he has chicken pox.
A day before this, two other patients — a 35-year-old Vaishali resident and a 47-year-old teacher from Greater Noida — were cleared for the infection. Dr GK Mishra, in-charge of the Gautam Budh Nagar control room for monkeypox, said the results meant there were no cases of the disease. “People must avoid panicking and ensure cleanliness and hygiene. They should inform the health department if there are any similar symptoms,” he said.
The health department in both GB Nagar and Ghaziabad have also designated a rapid response team to attend to any suspected case of monkeypox. In GB Nagar, officials have released a mobile number — 9675322617 — where people can report symptoms similar to that of monkeypox.
The action was taken after a 31-year-old man in Delhi, with no recent history of foreign travel, tested positive.
