By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has identified three cases of the mpox virus, also known as monkeypox, in individuals who recently arrived from the United Arab Emirates, a provincial health department said on Friday.
Two patients have been confirmed to have the virus, while a third is awaiting confirmation after samples were sent to the National Health Institute in Islamabad, according to Salim Khan, director general of health services for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
All three patients are being quarantined, Khan said.
Health Ministry spokesperson Sajid Shah said a suspected case of monkeypox has arrived from the Gulf. “Samples have been collected from the suspect and sent to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for confirmation.”
Shah said the individual had minor symptoms of the viral infection, but contact tracing was being carried out to avoid local transmission, and more samples were being sent to the NIH.
“We are taking all necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the virus,” Shah said. “All provinces have been directed to appoint focal persons, and Border Health Services has been directed to enhance monitoring at all entry points.”
The country has gone on high alert after reporting of suspected monkeypox cases this year, prompting the government to issue a nationwide advisory to prevent the spread of the viral disease.
The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has directed provinces to establish isolation wards, stock antiviral medications, and ensure personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers.
The move comes after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared monkeypox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years, citing a growing outbreak in Africa.
Pakistan has reported 11 cases, including one death, since the first cases emerged in April 2023. All cases were linked to travel from the Middle East and other regions. But the variant involved in the latest cases was not immediately clear.
The NIH has issued guidelines for dealing with the infection, including isolation, precautions, and hand washing routines.
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