Federal health authorities have confirmed a new case of monkeypox in a 42-year-old man from Attock district. The man recently returned from a Gulf country, and laboratory tests at the National Institute of Health (NIH) identified the viral infection.
According to NIH officials, the patient, who is from Village Malla Mansoor, Tehsil Hazro, Attock, arrived at Islamabad airport on August 15. He was immediately referred to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) after Border Health Services staff noticed visible symptoms of monkeypox, including body rashes and fever.
Hospital officials revealed that the man had been experiencing an undocumented fever for eight days while still in the Gulf state, followed by the appearance of papules on his face and body five days prior. Upon his arrival in Pakistan, the patient was isolated and samples were sent to the NIH, which confirmed the monkeypox infection on August 18. Health authorities stated that the patient has been placed under strict home isolation and is being closely monitored.
Officials also disclosed that the patient worked as a laborer in a Middle Eastern country and had reportedly been in contact with a confirmed monkeypox case there before his symptoms developed. His case history suggests that the disease may have been imported through international travel, raising concerns about potential transmission risks.
Monkeypox is a viral disease that spreads through close contact and causes fever, rash, swollen lymph nodes, and in some cases, severe complications. The Ministry of National Health Services has directed provincial health departments to enhance surveillance and ensure screening of inbound travelers at airports to prevent further spread.
Pakistan has previously detected sporadic cases of monkeypox in travelers, but officials insist there is currently no evidence of local transmission. However, sources have said that cases of local transmission recently emerged in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Experts caution that timely detection, isolation, and contact tracing remain critical to prevent community spread. The confirmation of this case comes amid increasing international alerts regarding the resurgence of monkeypox in several countries. Pakistani health officials have urged the public not to panic but to seek immediate medical attention if they develop an unexplained fever and skin lesions, particularly after international travel.
