India on Thursday reported the first monkeypox case in the southern state of Kerala with the infected person being a traveler who reached the state on July 12, an official said at the federal health ministry.

After the detection of the first monkeypox case, the federal government is rushing a multi-disciplinary team of senior doctors to Kerala to help the state government in investigating the outbreak and initiate requisite public health measures, said Lav Agarwal, joint secretary (Public Health) at the federal health ministry.

Earlier during the day, the federal government had asked all the state governments to ensure screening and testing of all suspected monkeypox cases at all entry points and in the community as part of the country's overall preparedness against the disease, local media reported on Thursday.

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The federal government also asked the states to identify hospitals and ensure adequate human resources and logistic support to manage any suspected or confirmed Monkeypox cases. ■