New Delhi: Amid the growing threat of monkeypox globally, India confirmed its first death to the fatal disease. A youth in Kerala’s Thrissur who showed symptoms of monkeypox died of the disease on Monday, said the state health minister.

Kerala Health Minister Veena George, speaking to press, said that the person had tested positive for the disease in UAE about 10 days ago and had not revealed about the same to doctors in Kerala.

The youth, a native of Punniyoor in Thrissur, died at a private hospital on Saturday, days after he returned from the UAE.

The 22-year-old’s sample was sent to National Institute of Virology. After testing the samples, the institute confirmed that the death was due to monkeypox and the youth had no other fatal illness or health problems.

This is India’s first confirmed monkeypox death and probably the fourth death outside African continent.

Till date, there are about 6 cases of monkeypox in the country. The first case of monkeypox was reported from Kollam district of south Kerala on July 14.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has put the total number of monkeypox cases at more than 18,000 cases across 78 countries.