Health officials in Lahore have confirmed the city’s first case of Mpox in a 48-year-old man, a development that is particularly concerning because the patient has no recent history of foreign travel.
Dr. Faryaad Hussain, the Medical Superintendent of Lahore General Hospital (LGH), stated that the man was admitted three days ago with symptoms that led doctors to suspect Mpox. Due to his medical history of a liver transplant in 2021, which compromised his immunity, he was especially vulnerable to the virus. “We had sent his samples to the Institute of Public Health (IPH) Lahore for screening, and today the lab confirmed that the man was positive for Mpox,” Dr. Faryaad said.
The patient’s lack of a travel history has raised alarms among infectious disease experts, who described the situation as “worrisome.” Health teams have been activated to trace the patient’s contacts and determine how the virus was transmitted. The patient is currently being kept under strict medical supervision at LGH to prevent any further spread.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral illness that spreads through close contact and causes symptoms such as fever, skin rashes, and swollen lymph nodes. While Pakistan has seen occasional cases before, this is the first confirmed instance of indigenous transmission in Lahore, leading to concerns about a silent spread within the community. Public health authorities are monitoring the situation and have urged the public to stay vigilant, avoid close contact with anyone who has suspected symptoms, and seek immediate medical help if they fall ill.
