Health authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) confirmed on Friday that three individuals have been diagnosed with the monkeypox (Mpox) virus. All three patients, including one reported on Thursday, were diagnosed after returning from an Arab country.
The confirmation of the first Mpox case in Pakistan this year comes shortly after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the virus a global health emergency of public concern.
While Pakistan has previously reported Mpox cases, the specific variant detected in the current patients has yet to be confirmed, according to a report from Reuters.
In response to the outbreak, airport surveillance across the country has been intensified. The Border Health Services (BHS) and provincial authorities are on high alert, with instructions to establish isolation wards in designated hospitals, stock antiviral medications, and ensure the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers.
Following the detection of these cases, additional samples have been collected from individuals in close contact with the patients. The Health Ministry has also ordered increased monitoring at all entry points to prevent further cases from entering the country.
The first confirmed monkeypox case this year involved a resident of Dir, currently residing in Mardan, who tested positive after returning from a Middle Eastern country on August 3, according to an official from the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination (NHS,R&C).
Provincial health authorities are now engaged in contact tracing, following WHO’s recent declaration of the disease as a global health emergency.
This case marks the 11th instance of Mpox in Pakistan over the past two years and the first in 2024. Last year, a patient co-infected with HIV and Mpox passed away at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad.
Over the past year, Pakistan reported 10 confirmed Mpox cases, all linked to travelers from the Middle East and other regions. The recurrence of cases among travelers highlights the need for rigorous border screening and monitoring.
During a special NCOC session, officials noted that around 15 African countries are currently reporting Mpox cases, with 2,030 confirmed infections. The virus’s spread to previously unaffected regions like Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda since mid-July 2024 indicates its growing reach.
