The Health department has decided to start help desks at all airports in the State as part of the preventive and control measures being adopted against monkeypox in the State, Health Minister Veena George said here. International travellers coming to the State can approach these help desks if they have any symptoms of fever or swelling in the lymph nodes or if at all they fear that they may have had contact with a person in whom monkeypox had been confirmed, she said.
The Health department is deploying trained health workers at the help desks to guide travellers. Ms. George said that over the past three days, some 1,500 health workers in the State had been given training in various aspects of monkeypox prevention and control. This apart, public announcements would be made in English and Malayalam in all airports that people who have travelled to countries where monkeypox has been reported in the last 21 days should report to the help desk if at all they develop any symptoms like fever or rash, headache or difficulty in swallowing.
People who have any such symptoms should remain in isolation and surveillance for 21 days. They should have no contact with children, pregnant women or those with reduced immunity in the family. Isolation facilities have been arranged in all districts.
