New Delhi: As a part of preparations for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, the opposition bloc I..N.D.I.A (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) on Saturday announced additional appointments in some of its committees set up during its Mumbai meeting. 

Alongside a 14-member coordination-cum-election strategy committee, the bloc also announced the formation of a campaign committee, media and social media task forces. 

Meanwhile, Notable additions include Congress' Pawan Khera and DMK's Kanimozhi Karunanidhi in the media working group, while DMK's Dayanidhi Maran and RLD's Rohit Jakhad join the social media working group.

Similarly, A. Raja of the DMK has been added to the working group for research. DMK's Tiruchi N. Shiva and PDP's Mehbooba Baig have been included in the 19-member campaign committee.

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Chennai, Nov 2: A 27-year-old native of Thiruvarur district, who had arrived from Sharjah, has tested negative for monkey pox, Health Minister Ma Subramanian said here on Saturday.

Test results from both the King Institute of Preventive Medicine and Research here and the Pune-based National Institute of Virology have show negative for Mpox virus, the minister said.

Subramanian had earlier in the day told reporters that result was awaited for the sample that had been dispatched to the NIV while test result from King Institute ruled out monkey pox.

On October 31, upon his arrival at Tiruchirappalli airport from the UAE, during screening, the young man displayed fever symptoms and small skin lesions. Hence, he was taken to a government hospital.

Subramanian said the returnee had been frightened and hence left for his hometown of Valangaiman in Thiruvarur district. "This treatment is for his good and in order to prevent the spread of infection," the minister said.

Hence, he was brought back to the hospital by the authorities with police help and he has been receiving good treatment at the state-run facility. Further, Subramanian said that the test result from the government-run King Institute indicated Chickenpox and marked negative for presence of Mpox.

Screening at airports for passengers arriving from foreign countries is going on continuously in the state and international airports have dedicated isolated rooms.

Special wards are ready in government medical college hospitals, including those in Chennai and Tiruchirappalli, to provide treatment for Mpox, in case anyone tests positive for the infection, the minister added.