A man in Kerala who had returned from the UAE and was admitted to a private hospital in Thrissur district symptoms of monkeypox died on Saturday.

The 26-year-old man, a native of Chavakkad, had arrived from the UAE on July 26.

Though he had only skin rashes while being admitted to hospital, swollen lymph nodes, one of the major symptoms of monkeypox, appeared on Friday.

However, health officials are waiting for the results from Alappuzha virology lab which will be available by noon on Sunday. If confirmed it will be the first monkeypox death in the state.

Health officials have already identified the primary contacts of the man and initiated measures to ensure that the health protocol is followed.

Meanwhile, another man in Kerala, who was India’s first monkeypox patient has recovered from the disease, state Health Minister Veena George said on Saturday.

The 35-year-old, hailing from Kollam, would be discharged later in the day, she said.