New Monkeypox case reported in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: A new case of monkeypox has been confirmed in Pakistan after two passengers arrived from Gulf countries, according to health officials.

According to sources, one of the patients,  a resident of Attock, tested positive for the virus. He had landed in Islamabad on Friday and later developed symptoms.

He was initially shifted to PIMS Hospital in Islamabad and later moved to THQ Hospital Hazro for further treatment.

The National Institute of Health (NIH) has confirmed the diagnosis.

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Meanwhile, tests of the second passenger from the Gulf returned negative.

WHAT IS MONKEYPOX?

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a rare viral zoonotic disease. Its symptoms resemble smallpox, beginning with fever and chills, followed by a rash that may take weeks to heal.

The infection spreads from animals to humans and can also pass between people, often linked to travel or contact with infected animals. Although no specific treatment exists, most cases resolve without medical intervention.

Health experts warn that the virus can spread through close contact, urging people to follow social distancing. It enters the body through broken skin, the respiratory tract, or the eyes, nose, and mouth.

Rashes usually appear one to three days after fever, often starting from the face before spreading across the body. Other common signs include headache, muscle pain, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes.

The incubation period ranges from 7 to 14 days but may extend from 5 to 21 days. The illness generally lasts two to four weeks.