Pakistan confirms second case of mpox amid global outbreak

• Patient diagnosed at the airport during examination.
• He reached Peshawar from the Gulf country.
• Pakistan ensures precautionary measures at airports.

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination on Friday confirmed the second case of mpox in Pakistan, saying the virus was detected in a person who returned to Peshawar from a Gulf country.

The patient, who tested positive for mpox, was diagnosed at the Peshawar airport by a health office set up to screen incoming passengers.

According to a spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, the person showed symptoms of the virus upon arrival and was immediately taken to a hospital for further tests and treatment. Subsequent tests confirmed that the patient was positive for mpox.

National Coordinator for Health Dr Mukhtar Ahmad said an effective screening and surveillance system is in place at all airports. He added that border health personnel were working diligently at airports and points of entry. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad said that the government is ensuring serious measures to protect people from epidemics.

Sharing details of the new patient, KP Director of Public Health Dr Irshad Rugani said the 47-year-old patient was a resident of Nowshera.

He disclosed that the patient diagnosed with the virus returned from the Gulf country yesterday morning.

“The person has been declared a ‘suspicious patient’ by the medical team deployed at the Peshawar airport,” he added.

Dr. Rugani further stated that the patient was tested for mpox at the Khyber Medical University Laboratory — which came back positive.

With the latest case, the number of people infected with the viral disease this year has risen to two. The first case of 2024 was confirmed in KP last week.

In the past two years, Pakistan has reported a total of 12 cases of mpox. This recent surge in cases has led health officials to step up surveillance efforts, particularly at major points of entry such as airports.

Mpox, also known as monkey pox, is a viral zoonotic disease that can spread from animals to humans. Human-to-human transmission can occur through direct contact with bodily fluids, respiratory droplets, or contaminated materials.

Symptoms of the virus include fever, rash and swollen lymph nodes. Although generally less serious than smallpox, mpox can cause significant illness, especially in vulnerable populations.

Public health officials urged travelers to remain vigilant and report any symptoms to health authorities immediately.

Following the detection of multiple mpox cases, Pakistan requested vaccines from the World Health Organization (WHO) and GAVI. The National Institute of Health (NIH) in Islamabad has started discussions with these international agencies to secure a significant quantity of mpox vaccines.

These vaccines will be primarily intended for healthcare workers and infectious disease specialists who are on the front lines of managing and treating confirmed and suspected mpox cases.

This initiative comes in response to the two recent mpox cases involving people who have returned from the Middle East. As a precaution, Pakistani health authorities have increased surveillance at airports and other points of entry to ensure that suspected cases are isolated and tested immediately.

Additionally, isolation wards and filter clinics have been set up in major cities such as Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar to manage any suspected cases.