The National Institute of Health (NIH) on Thursday confirmed that first case of monkey pox has been reported in Karachi—the first in the Metropolitan and Sindh province.
The NIH said it was the third case of monkeypox in the country. However, a couple of days back the Federal Health Minister declared Pakistan “free of monkeypox”.
“The National Institutes of Health (NIH) inform that third case of monkeypox in Pakistan is confirmed by Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) Karachi. This is the first case of monkeypox confirmed in Karachi Sindh, bringing the tally to three in the country,” the NIH said on twitter.
“The first two cases reported in Islamabad are now completely stable and recovered from the infection,” it added.
The NIH said the Federal Ministry of Health along with NCOC, vigilantly monitoring the situation while keeping all the relevant stakeholders on board for ensuring preparedness, timely response, and containment of monkeypox cases in Pakistan.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) inform that third case of monkeypox in Pakistan is confirmed by Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) Karachi. This is the first case of monkeypox confirmed in Karachi Sindh, bringing the tally to three in the country.
— NIH Pakistan (@NIH_Pakistan) May 4, 2023
A rare disease caused by the monkeypox virus, mpox symptoms are similar to but milder than smallpox symptoms. The disease spreads when someone is in close contact with an infected animal or person. It is a droplet infection and enters the body through broken skin, the respiratory tract or through the eyes, nose or mouth, as well as through shared items such as bedding or towels.
Early signs of monkeypox include flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, trunk, lymphadenopathy and chickenpox-like rashes on the hands and face.
In a statement issued today, the Sindh Health Department said it had taken proactive measures to prevent the spread of mpox, a disease that can be transmitted from humans to other humans and from the environment to humans.
The government had established male and female isolation wards in major hospitals across the province to accommodate patients who may contract the disease.
To monitor the situation, a surveillance group has been established to oversee the mpox outbreak in Sindh, including airports, train stations, and ports. Additionally, precautionary messages have been sent out to schools, mosques, and commercial areas.
In light of these developments, the department urged the public to maintain social distancing and be alert to any symptoms of fever, cough, or rashes to prevent the spread of the disease.
