Authorities in Pakistan beefed up measures at airports and set up isolation wards in hospitals after two persons were found infected with Mpox after landing in Islamabad on April 17.
“Two persons, including a deportee from Saudia Arabia, have been found infected with Mpox (Monkeypox) virus. They arrived in the federal capital from Saudi Arabia on April 17, 2023, and when their samples were sent to the National Institute of Health (NIH), they tested positive for the viral infection,” The News reported quoting a senior official of the NHS, R&C.
One patient is a resident of Islamabad who had recently returned from an international flight, while the other one is from Mandi Bahauddin and had returned Pakistan on same flight, according to the official. The casees were identified quickly, and the patients have been isolated at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital.
According to Pakistan’s health ministry, the country has taken a total of 22 samples of suspected cases since May 2022 but found no evidence of any local outbreak. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared monkeypox a public health emergency of international concern in July 2022. Since then, there have been about 87,000 confirmed cases of the disease globally with 119 related deaths.
Enhanced surveillance
The health authorities in Pakistan are trying to ensure enhanced surveillance through laboratory diagnostics, contact tracing, and rapid identification of suspected cases to provide optimal clinical care and prevent the spread of the disease. The risk of localized transmission of monkeypox in Pakistan is low at present, and the authorities are taking all necessary measures to contain the disease.
The authorities have also raised airport alert levels and have put in place measures to ensure medical screening of inbound passengers.
The emergence of a monkeypox case in Pakistan is a reminder that zoonotic diseases can spread rapidly across borders. The WHO has called for increased global cooperation and investment in preparedness and response to infectious diseases to mitigate their impact on health, economies, and societies.
Monkeypox Virus
Monkeypox can be transmitted from infected animals to humans or from infected humans to others through close contact and droplets. Symptoms include high fever, headache, exhaustion, muscle and backaches, and swollen lymph nodes. The disease can be severe, and it can lead to complications, including secondary bacterial infections.