Ministry Officials
Confirm Virus-Infected Traveler from Saudi Arabia to Pakistan
Two cases of Monkeypox (Mpox) have been confirmed in Pakistan after two individuals arrived in Islamabad on April 17, 2023, from Saudi Arabia, according to officials from the National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination (NHS, R&C). One of the infected individuals was a deportee from Saudi Arabia who exhibited symptoms such as high-grade fever, rash, headache, muscle aches, and sore throat upon arrival. Samples sent to the National Institute of Health (NIH) confirmed the Mpox infection. The second case was traced to an individual who had been sitting next to the first affected person during the flight. The airline, which transported the infected individual, was criticized for not taking appropriate measures to prevent the spread of the disease.
Mpox is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus,
as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO). It presents symptoms such as
skin rash or mucosal lesions, fever, headache, muscle aches, and swollen lymph
nodes. Since January 2022, WHO has reported cases of Monkeypox from 110 member
states, totaling 87,113 laboratory-confirmed cases and 130 deaths as of April
25th, 2023.
In response to the Mpox cases in Pakistan, airports across the
country have been placed on high alert, and airlines have been instructed to
report suspected cases to the border health services department. Provincial
health departments have also begun setting up isolation wards in major health
facilities to admit suspected and confirmed cases. Healthcare officials are
receiving training to manage infectious diseases.
Mpox is transmitted through physical contact with infected
individuals, contaminated materials, or infected animals. The disease is
treated with supportive care, and vaccines and therapeutics developed for
smallpox may be used in certain circumstances for Mpox, as approved in some
countries. The detection of Mpox cases in Pakistan has raised concerns about
the need for heightened vigilance and preventive measures to contain the spread
of the disease.
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