Pakistan confirms fifth Mpox virus case in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
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- 12 Sep 2024
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Pakistan has confirmed its fifth case of the mpox virus in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, specifically in Peshawar, according to Health Minister Qasim Ali Shah. The patient, a 33-year-old man, had returned to Pakistan from a Gulf country on September 7 via Islamabad International Airport. He subsequently traveled to Peshawar, where he sought treatment at a private clinic before being referred to Khyber Teaching Hospital. The virus was confirmed by a public health reference lab.
The patient is currently quarantined at his home in Lower Dir, with no reported contact with relatives or others, aside from those on his flight. His symptoms are reportedly improving, and local health officials are monitoring his condition.
This case follows the World Health Organization's (WHO) recent declaration of the mpox outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern, particularly due to the spread of the Clade 1b variant, which spreads easily through close contact.
Minister Shah expressed concern over the lack of screening at Islamabad International Airport, emphasizing the need for the federal government to strengthen its screening processes. So far, over 66,000 people have been screened at entry points in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with five confirmed cases out of 17 suspected cases. The previous four cases, also identified in Peshawar, have since recovered and been discharged from the isolation ward.
