Another monkeypox case reported in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Another case of monkeypox has been reported in Pakistan, taking the total number of cases this year to eight in the country.

Health ministry officials said that a 32-year-old man, who recently arrived in Islamabad from a Gulf country, has been diagnosed with the mpox virus.

The officials confirmed saying that the individual was tested upon arrival at the Islamabad airport after being identified as a suspected case.

According to the health ministry officials, the patient is currently under treatment at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).

PIMS Hospital’s Infectious Diseases Department head confirmed that the patient hails from Upper Dir in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and is in stable condition, with no immediate threat to his health.

It is worth noting that eight monkeypox cases have been reported in Pakistan so far this year.

At least five mpox cases have been reported in Peshawar alone. Another case was reported earlier in August in Karachi.

In response to growing concerns regarding the outbreak, strict screening protocols have been put in place at all airports across the country.

Authorities said they were ‘closely’ monitoring the situation and ensuring that preventive measures were in place.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared mpox – formerly known as monkeypox – a “public health emergency of international concern” (PHEIC) after the virus spread from Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to surrounding countries.

The virus was declared a PHEIC under the International Health Regulations (2005) on August 15. This is the second time mpox was declared a global health emergency in two years.

The first case outside Africa was reported in Sweden, followed shortly by the very first case in Pakistan.

The global community has been on high alert since, especially as the virus as no vaccine of its own. The fear is high as the Clade 1b variant’s spread has been rapid and without much understanding of the new strain.

Besides Pakistan, Thailand reported its first case in August, followed by Singapore and the Philippines. Singapore reported an alarming 13 cases, while the Phillipines shared that three cases have been confirmed so far.

Meanwhile, countries such as Japan, China and South Korea increased monitoring of the virus. China stepped up its sanitation measures for airports, aircrafts and even cargo from affected regions.

Similarly, authorities in Japan and South Korea said they were closely monitoring the situation.

The World Health Organization has announced the MVA-BN vaccine as the first vaccine against Mpox to be added to its prequalification list.

The prequalification approval is expected to facilitate timely and increased access to this vital product in communities with urgent need, to reduce transmission and help contain the outbreak.