Pakistan confirms 3rd case of Mpox virus, another patient under surveillance

On Thursday, medical staff at Bacha Khan International Airport spotted two travelers showing symptoms of the Mpox virus, formerly known as monkeypox.

The viral infection was detected in the patients on their arrival from the United Arab Emirates, the health department said. (File)

Pakistan has confirmed its third case of Mpox virus at Peshawar airport, Dawn reported on Saturday citing officials.

The most recent case involves a 51-year-old man from Orakzai, who is currently under medical supervision at the Police and Services Hospital (PSH) in Peshawar, while health officials are also monitoring another suspected case, awaiting laboratory results for confirmation, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Public Health Director Dr Irshad Ali Roghani was quoted as saying by the daily.

“This is the third confirmed case of Mpox in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the year 2024,” said Roghani, adding that no locally transmitted cases have been reported so far. “The Rapid Response Team took the patient’s samples and sent them to the laboratory.”

On Thursday, medical staff at Bacha Khan International Airport spotted two travelers showing symptoms of the Mpox virus, formerly known as monkeypox. Both were immediately transferred to the Police and Services Hospital (PSH) for treatment.

Documents, including the ‘Suspected Passengers Data Form’ for each individual, revealed that both passengers had traveled on the same flight from Jeddah to Peshawar, as reported by Dawn.

In addition to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cases, Sindh province has reported a suspected Mpox case at Karachi airport. The traveler, who arrived from Jeddah, is being treated at Nipa Infectious Diseases Hospital.

Pakistan’s health ministry had earlier confirmed that the first Mpox case detected in the country was of the Clade 2 variant.

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The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Mpox outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern” due to the emergence of the highly contagious Clade 1b variant. While the virus is not as easily spread as Covid-19, its rapid transmission has raised global alarm.

Also read | WHO declares monkeypox a public health emergency of global concern: All you need to know about this viral infection

The Mpox outbreak has been particularly severe in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where over 27,000 cases and 1,100 deaths have been reported since January 2023. The Clade 1b variant has also been identified in Sweden and Thailand, indicating its global spread.

While the WHO has not recommended travel restrictions to curb the spread of Mpox , healthcare professionals and the public are encouraged to be vigilant and practice good hygiene to minimise the risk of infection.

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