Pakistan has identified its second case of mpox, according to a spokesperson from the Health Ministry.
The patient, who arrived in Pakistan from a Gulf country, was promptly transferred to a hospital by the Peshawar airport health desk after exhibiting symptoms of the disease.
Upon arrival, the individual showed signs consistent with mpox, leading to immediate medical evaluation. Testing confirmed the presence of the mpox virus, as verified by the Ministry of Health spokesperson.
Sources say the latest patient belongs to Nowshera and is 30 years old with symptoms of rashes on the skin. The patient reached Peshawar from a Gulf country on Thursday night, and was undergoing treatment at Hayatabad Medical Complex.
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They further said the patient under treatment in the mpox isolation ward was apparently healthy and will be discharged soon. The federal government has also decided to conduct a separate test for the variant of the affected patient.
In response to this development, the Ministry of Health is ensuring continuous monitoring of the situation to prevent further transmission. The National Health coordinator emphasized that all necessary measures are being taken to contain the outbreak and protect public health.
Dr. Mukhtar Bharath, the PM's coordinator on health, highlighted that all airports in Pakistan are equipped with effective screening and surveillance systems. These protocols are designed to detect and manage potential cases swiftly, thereby minimizing the risk of widespread infection.
On August 16, Pakistan confirmed its first case of mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) for the year 2024, with the case reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Mardan district.
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Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Bharath, the prime minister's health coordinator, chaired a meeting to review the situation, confirming that the infected individual had travelled from a Gulf country. The case was identified through a positive result from a suspected mpox case. The individual was home quarantined due to minor symptoms.
The Ministry of Health initiated contact tracing and obtained samples from additional individuals to ensure no further spread. Dr. Bharath emphasized the importance of rigorous monitoring at all points of entry and instructed Border Health Services to maintain stringent checks.
