Federal authorities launch probe to check failure in mpox detection at Islamabad airport

ISLAMABAD: Federal health authorities have launched a comprehensive investigation to determine if there were “lapses in surveillance” after a 35-year-old labourer infected with mpox passed through health screenings at Islamabad International Airport unchecked, raising serious concerns about the competence of Border Health Services (BHS) officials.

The man, who arrived from a Middle Eastern country on September 7, 2024, later tested positive for mpox in Peshawar, making him the first confirmed case to enter Islamabad undetected but diagnosed elsewhere. “We have acquired pictures of the patient, and we are also reviewing footage from the airport to establish the facts,” a senior official from the federal health ministry told The News on Thursday.

The official acknowledged the criticism faced by BHS but insisted that the organisation was “doing a good job overall.” As part of the investigation, authorities are looking into how the infected individual managed to evade detection. They plan to speak with the patient to understand how he bypassed health and surveillance officials at the airport.

Meanwhile, contact tracing is underway to determine whether the man may have transmitted the infection to others during his flight to Islamabad or while staying at a hotel in Peshawar.

In light of this oversight, health authorities are also exploring the possibility of relocating the BHS headquarters from Karachi to Islamabad. “All other federal institutions have their head offices in Islamabad, and it would make sense for BHS to relocate here too for better oversight and performance monitoring,” the official added. The move is seen as an essential step in strengthening the system and ensuring tighter coordination in health surveillance.

Health officials have also launched awareness campaigns to inform travelers, especially those undertaking pilgrimages, about the risks of infectious diseases, including mpox, and measures they can take to protect themselves. “We are apprising travelers of the situation abroad and urging them to take necessary precautions,” said the official.

On the other hand, officials from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) health department claim that despite showing clear symptoms of mpox, the labourer was not flagged during health screenings at the airport. He was later diagnosed at Khyber Medical University in Peshawar, where tests conducted at a National Institute of Health (NIH)-designated lab confirmed the infection.

KP health authorities expressed shock at the failure of airport surveillance, particularly as Pakistan had already recorded six mpox cases, all linked to Middle Eastern countries, and the World Health Organization (WHO) had declared mpox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on August 14, 2024.

According to them, the labourer had contracted the virus while working abroad and chose to return to Pakistan rather than seek treatment in the Middle East, fearing deportation. “He knew he was infected and flew back to Pakistan to avoid deportation, but the authorities at Islamabad airport failed to detect his condition,” a senior official in the provincial health department confirmed.

The man travelled to Peshawar after landing in Islamabad, where he sought medical attention and tested positive for mpox. His undetected arrival in Islamabad has raised alarms over the effectiveness of BHS surveillance, particularly at major airports like Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore, which receive most flights from mpox-affected regions.

So far, Peshawar Airport has been the only airport in the country to detect mpox cases, sparking criticism over the inconsistent performance of screening protocols at other major entry points.

This incident has intensified scrutiny over Pakistan’s preparedness to manage the threat posed by infectious diseases like mpox, especially after the WHO’s emergency declaration, and underscores the urgent need to improve airport health surveillance.