Pakistan reported its third confirmed case of the mpox virus at Peshawar airport, with another suspected patient also transferred to a hospital, according to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Public Health Director Dr. Irshad Ali Roghani on Saturday. Meanwhile, a suspected mpox case was also identified at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, as reported by the Sindh health department.
Earlier this month, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the recent mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern after identifying the new Clade 1b variant, which has raised global alarm due to its rapid spread through routine close contact. However, the WHO clarified that the mpox outbreak is not comparable to Covid-19, given the existing knowledge about the virus and established control measures.
Pakistan’s first mpox case involved the Clade 2 variant, while the second case, confirmed last week, was also detected at Peshawar airport. On Thursday, medical staff at Bacha Khan International Airport identified two travelers showing symptoms of the virus, who were subsequently transferred to the Police and Services Hospital (PSH) for treatment.
One confirmed case involved a 51-year-old man from Orakzai, who is currently in stable condition. A second patient, a 47-year-old man from Peshawar, is awaiting test results. Both passengers had traveled on the same flight from Jeddah to Peshawar.
Dr. Roghani stated that no locally transmitted cases had been reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa so far, and a Rapid Response Team has been activated to handle the situation. Similarly, in Karachi, a 32-year-old traveler from Jeddah exhibiting symptoms of a “maculopapular rash” has been admitted to Nipa Infectious Diseases Hospital, and his sample has been sent for testing.
The Ministry of National Health Services assured that the mpox virus is under control in Pakistan. A spokesperson mentioned ongoing screenings for suspected cases across the country, with symptomatic individuals being isolated to prevent local transmission.
Globally, the WHO has raised its highest level of alert following the outbreak in Africa, where over 27,000 cases and 1,100 deaths have been reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since January 2023. The Clade 1b variant has also been detected in Sweden and Thailand, marking its spread beyond the continent, but the WHO has not recommended any travel restrictions.
Mpox typically presents with flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. Although often mild, it can be fatal, especially for children, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems
