Mpox Cases
Pakistan’s monkeypox tally for the year has reached four cases following the report of a new infection in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). The latest case was confirmed after a passenger, who had recently returned from abroad, was diagnosed with the virus.
This individual, hailing from Orakzai, was detected with monkeypox at the airport and has been transferred to Services Hospital in Peshawar for treatment.
The confirmation of this case by the KP Director of Public Health highlights the ongoing concerns surrounding monkeypox, especially in light of the recent global outbreak.
The Public Health Laboratory in KP verified the presence of mpox in the patient. The individual’s symptoms, which became apparent upon arrival at the airport, led to their immediate isolation and subsequent hospitalization.
In response to this development, the Federal Ministry of Health has implemented stringent measures to control the spread of the virus.
These include enhanced screening procedures, isolation protocols, and other preventive measures at all international airports across the country. The introduction of thermal scanning is part of these measures to detect and manage potential cases promptly.
The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) has also taken proactive steps by instructing all airlines operating international flights into Pakistan to adhere to preventive measures against monkeypox.
This includes ensuring compliance with health guidelines at airports to mitigate the risk of transmission.
The Border Health Services (BHS), which plays a crucial role in managing monkeypox-related operations at international airports, is responsible for the coordination of isolation and safe transportation of suspected cases to designated medical facilities.
Regular inspections and audits are being conducted by the CAA to ensure that health measures and standard operating procedures (SOPs) are effectively implemented.
The recent global concern over a new variant of monkeypox, which appears to spread more easily through close contact, has prompted heightened vigilance.
The first case of this new variant was reported in Sweden on August 15 and is linked to a growing outbreak in Africa, marking its spread beyond the continent.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), monkeypox is a viral disease closely related to the eradicated smallpox virus. It can be transmitted through close contact and contaminated materials such as clothing, sheets, and needles.
Initial symptoms often include fever, chills, muscle pain, swollen glands, and fatigue, followed by a rash with raised lesions that eventually scab over.
In Pakistan, the four reported cases of monkeypox have all been detected in passengers returning from abroad. The locations of these cases include Mardan, Nowshera, and Orakzai in KP.
Despite the increasing number of cases, there have been no domestic transmissions reported thus far. The health authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, with the patient in Orakzai currently in stable condition and receiving appropriate medical care at Services Hospital.
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