Pakistan has reported its first suspected case of mpox this year, prompting swift action from the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) and provincial health authorities. The case, identified in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, involves a 23-year-old individual who recently returned from the Gulf region and is currently exhibiting minor symptoms consistent with mpox.

Swift Government Response

Sajid Shah, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, confirmed that the patient’s samples have been sent to the National Institute of Health (NIH) for definitive testing. The patient has been quarantined at home, and health officials have initiated contact tracing to prevent any potential spread of the virus. “It would not be appropriate to disclose the individual’s name or city of residence at this stage,” said a health official.

In response to the suspected case, the NCOC has issued an advisory urging all provinces to designate focal persons for mpox-related matters. Border Health Services have been directed to intensify monitoring at all entry points into the country.

The Punjab government has also heightened vigilance across international airports, public sector hospitals, and district health authorities. Precautionary measures are being implemented to detect and manage any potential mpox cases swiftly.

Global Health Emergency

This development comes in the wake of a recent declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO), which has classified the increasing spread of mpox in Africa as a global health emergency. WHO has expressed concerns that the virus, which has already caused over 14,000 cases and 524 deaths in Africa this year, could potentially spread across international borders. Most of these cases and deaths have occurred in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where a new, more easily transmissible strain of the virus has emerged.

NCOC Advisory Highlights

In its advisory, the NCOC noted that mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, has been reported in 122 countries across all WHO regions. Pakistan has recorded a total of 11 cases with one death since the first cases were detected in April 2023. The virus is a rare zoonotic disease, and though its natural reservoir remains unidentified, it is suspected to be carried by African rodents and non-human primates.

The advisory highlighted two distinct types of the mpox virus: Clade I, associated with more severe illness and higher mortality rates, and Clade II, which is less severe and responsible for the ongoing global outbreak that began in 2022. Human-to-human transmission can occur through direct contact with bodily fluids, lesion material, or contaminated clothing and linens.

For confirmed cases, the advisory recommends isolation in a single room with a private bathroom, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and supportive care. While there is no specific antiviral therapy, some antiviral medications have shown effectiveness in severe cases. The advisory also stresses the importance of strict infection prevention and control measures, including hand hygiene, environmental cleaning, and disinfection.

Provincial Preparedness

In line with the NCOC’s directive, the Punjab Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has instructed health authorities to disseminate the advisory to all public and private hospitals in the province. The DGHS has also called for close coordination with health establishments to monitor international passengers at airports and other entry points for potential mpox cases.