Pakistan reports three mpox cases

At least three patients with mpox virus have been found so far in Pakistan, it emerged on Friday as the government decided to strengthen the screening system at the airports.

The mpox detection in Pakistan is the first in Asia and it might be more easily transmitted. The World Health Organisation has declared the spread of mpox a global health emergency.

All three patients belong to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province in the northwest, the militancy-whacked region bordering Afghanistan.

Salim Khan, the director general of health services for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa said that two patients were detected on their arrival from the United Arab Emirates, while a third patient’s samples had been sent to the National Health Institute in Islamabad for confirmation.

According to the spokesperson of the Federal Ministry of Health, the last patient in whom this virus was found belongs to the Mardan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

It is not yet clear which strain of mpox the said patient contracted and whether it is the same variant that was first confirmed outside of Africa in Sweden.

“Contact tracing of the affected person has been started and samples of more people are being obtained,” the spokesman said.

Officials said that all three patients were being quarantined and their contact tracing was going on.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Health also issued an advisory on the disease on Thursday, which states that “the screening system at airports and entry points is being further strengthened.”

Prime Minister’s Coordinator for Health Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Bharath says that federal hospitals have been instructed to take precautionary measures and the Ministry of Health and Border Health Services are “alert to deal with any kind of situation.”

The WHO declared the outbreak of mpox in parts of Africa as a cause of international concern and a threat to public health.

The highly contagious disease, formerly known as ‘monkeypox’, killed at least 450 people in the Republic of Congo. It is caused by the monkeypox virus, which belongs to the same group of viruses as smallpox but is less harmful.

The virus was originally transmitted from animals to humans, but now it is also transmitted from humans to humans. (PTI)

Hot this week

Pay hike of Assam ministers, MLAs likely as 3-member panel submits report

Full report likely by Oct 30 Guwahati Sept 25: There...

Meghalaya Biological Park Inaugurated After 25 Years: A New Chapter in Conservation and Education

Shillong, Nov 28: Though it took nearly 25 years...

ANSAM rejects Kuki’s separate administration demand, says bifurcation not acceptable

Guwahati, Sept 8: Rejecting the separate administration demand of...

Meghalaya man missing in Bangkok

Shillong, Jan 10: A 57-year-old Meghalaya resident, Mr. Treactchell...

Meghalaya’s historic fiber paves the way for eco-friendly products and sustainable livelihoods

By Roopak Goswami Shillong, Oct 25: From making earbuds to...

Prez Murmu felicitates Durand Cup champions NEUFC

New Delhi, Aug 27: President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday...

Paul emphasises equal opportunities for PwDs

Shillong, Aug 27: Social Welfare minister Paul Lyngdoh stressed...

Six dead as unauthorised building collapses in Virar, Maharashtra

Palghar, Aug 27: Six persons were killed and eight...

Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone booked in Bharatpur for ‘defective’ car

Jaipur, Aug 27: Police in Rajasthan's Bharatpur have registered...

Govt depts asked to verify Aadhaar with QR scanner

Shillong, Aug 27: The General Administration Department has issued...

Govt launches Online Building Permission System

Shillong, Aug 27: The state government has notified the...

300 SSA schools keen to hand over management to Govt

Proposal for pay scale structure for 14,000 SSA teachers...

Anish Bhanwala wins 25m rapid fire pistol silver at Asian C’ships

Shymkent (Kazakhstan), Aug 27: India's Anish Bhanwala once again...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories