KP reports another mpox case as tally reaches 6 in Pakistan

PESHAWAR: Another case of the mpox, also known as monkeypox, was reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), pushing the tally of the virus to six in Pakistan, provincial Health Minister Syed Qasim Ali Shah said on Wednesday.

Notably, this is the sixth case reported in the country this year and the fifth since the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the recent outbreak of the disease as a public health emergency of international concern after the new variant of the virus was identified in August.

According to the National Institute of Health Islamabad, the latest patient is a resident of Lower Dir area of KP. He was isolated after the screening at the Peshawar Airport and after a medical test, he was confirmed as a carrier of the mpox virus, it added.

The KP health minister said: “A public health lab confirmed the presence of the mpox virus in the patient’s [blood] samples.”

“The patient has been quarantined at his home in the Lower Dir area,” the minister said, adding that he reached Islamabad from a Gulf country on September 7 and then stayed at a hotel in Peshawar.

Shah further added: “Next day the patient went to a private clinic for [some] treatment and was then transferred to Khyber Teaching Hospital.”

Mpox is a virus that causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions and, while usually mild, it can kill. Children, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems are all at higher risk of complications, reported Reuters.

Earlier this month, Peshawar reported its fourth case, prompting fears that the city could be becoming a hotspot for the virus.

The patient, a 47-year-old man, tested positive after being isolated by Border Health Services staff on August 29. He had returned from the Gulf region, adding to concerns about the virus's spread from travellers arriving from the Middle East, Geo News reported.

"This is the fifth mpox case reported this year [in the country] and the fourth since WHO declared mpox a global health emergency," said Federal Director General of Health Dr Shabana Saleem on Sunday.

Dr Saleem emphasised the need for vigilance, highlighting that all recent cases have involved individuals with a history of travel to the Gulf.

"Peshawar appears to be turning into an epicentre for mpox cases," she stated. "This trend is alarming, and we are doubling our efforts to prevent further spread."

Authorities have ramped up measures to contain the virus, with stringent screening protocols now enforced at all airports.

The spike in mpox cases in Peshawar has triggered concerns among health experts and the public alike, with calls for increased awareness and stricter travel guidelines.

The federal director general of health urged the public to remain vigilant and to comply with health advisories, particularly those returning from high-risk regions.