Patient succumbs to monkeypox at PIMS hospital, NIH refutes

ISLAMABAD: In a somber development, a 40-year-old patient, undergoing treatment for monkeypox at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad, passed away two days ago, as confirmed by authorities.

The patient, afflicted by both monkeypox (m-pox) and HIV, had been battling these complex health conditions.

Officials revealed that the individual, who had come from Saudi Arabia, had been receiving medical care for monkeypox at PIMS for the past one and a half months.

The intertwining challenges posed by both monkeypox and HIV underscore the heightened vulnerability of individuals with compromised immune systems.

NIH Refutes Monkeypox Fatality at PIMS

Contrary to earlier reports, the National Institute of Health dismisses the notion of a monkeypox-related death at PIMS, attributing the unfortunate passing to complications arising from HIV, as clarified by the institute’s spokesperson.

The official statement highlights that, to date, Pakistan has recorded a total of 8 individuals infected with m-pox, according to the National Institute of Health.

What is Monkeypox

Mpox (monkeypox) is a viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus, a species of the genus Orthopoxvirus. Two different clades exist: clade I and clade II

Common symptoms of mpox are a skin rash or mucosal lesions which can last 2–4 weeks accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes.

Mpox can be transmitted to humans through physical contact with someone who is infectious, with contaminated materials, or with infected animals.

Laboratory confirmation of mpox is done by testing skin lesion material by PCR.

Mpox is treated with supportive care. Vaccines and therapeutics developed for smallpox and approved for use in some countries can be used for mpox in some circumstances.

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