Pakistan’s mpox tally reaches 8 as another case reported in Islamabad

• Gulf expatriate diagnosed with mpox hails from KP’s Upper Dir.
• Patient in stable condition and receiving appropriate medical care.
• Health official calls for mpox public awareness campaigns.
  

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ISLAMABAD: A 32-year-old man returning to pakistan from a Gulf nation recently tested positive for mpox, marking the country’s eighth confirmed case of the virus this year, officials from the Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) Regulations and Coordination announced on Thursday.

The man, who hails from Upper Dir in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, arrived at Islamabad International Airport on December 18, exhibiting lesions and other symptoms consistent with the infectious disease, The News reported.

He was promptly transferred to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for evaluation. His samples were subsequently collected and sent to the National Institute of Health (NIH) for testing.

“Subsequent testing at the NIH confirmed the mpox infection. Genetic sequencing is being performed to ascertain the type of virus,” an NHS official said.

Dr Naseem Akhtar, head of the Infectious Diseases Department at PIMS, confirmed that the patient is in stable condition and receiving appropriate medical care. 

The latest mpox case comes despite federal health authorities stressing the need for increased vigilance, particularly at international entry points, to further prevent the spread of the virus. 

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral disease characterised by fever, skin rashes, and swollen lymph nodes.

Pakistan’s encounter with this disease began in 2023, as the first case reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) on April 20, 2023.

In 2024, the country documented eight confirmed cases, including the recent one in Islamabad. 

Notably, in August 2024, Pakistan reported its first case of the more virulent Clade 1b variant of the virus. This variant, associated with higher transmission rates and increased severity, has raised global concerns.

Experts at the NIH Islamabad stated that the global mpox situation has evolved significantly over the past two years. 

In August 2024, the WHO declared the outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern” following a surge in cases, particularly in Central and West Africa. 

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been notably affected, with over 14,000 suspected cases and more than 600 deaths reported in 2024. 

According to infectious diseases experts, the emergence of the Clade 1b variant, first identified in the DRC, has led to increased vigilance worldwide. This variant has been detected in countries beyond Africa, including Sweden and Pakistan, prompting health authorities to enhance surveillance, contact tracing, and preventive measures. 

“In response to the rising number of cases and the detection of the Clade 1b variant, Pakistani health authorities have implemented several measures, including increased surveillance at international airports and other entry points to identify and isolate potential cases promptly,” an official said.

However, the official called for public awareness campaigns, particularly targeting Pakistanis living in Gulf countries where this disease is prevalent but often goes unreported.

“We need to educate people working in Gulf countries to maintain good hygiene practices, avoid close contact with individuals exhibiting symptoms, and seek immediate medical attention if they develop signs consistent with mpox,” an infectious diseases expert commented.