Last updated on August 29th, 2024 at 07:43 pm
Islamabad: A 34-year-old man belonging to Mardan is being reported as the first case of monkeypox in Pakistan for the year 2024. He tested positive upon his return from Saudi Arabia. Confirmation from Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, came on August 13 after the man’s arrival in Pakistan on August 3.
Case Details
Having developed symptoms after reaching Peshawar, the patient had approached a local hospital. The health officials have since undertaken contact tracing seeking contact with individuals who may have been exposed, a grouping that includes fellow passengers on his flight from Saudi Arabia.
Previous Cases and Global Context
Pakistan, earlier this year in 2023, reported three monkeypox cases at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport. These patients, all Pakistani citizens aged between 30 and 45 years of age, were subsequently taken to an infectious disease hospital. Since April 2023, in total, 11 cases have been traced in Pakistan with one death reported.
Monkeypox is a viral illness that causes symptoms similar to smallpox; it has infected people in many parts of the world. The World Health Organization reported 99,518 cases with 208 deaths in 122 countries. Close contact spreads the highly infectious virus, which generally starts with symptoms including fever, rash, and body ache and it lasts for 2 to 4 weeks. WHO said despite the wide prevalence, the survival rate of the infected was 99 percent.
Health Advisory and Preventive Measures
After the new case, NIH has issued an advisory containing guidelines on the management and prevention of monkeypox. Public health officials have called for vigilance to continue monitoring the virus to ensure that it does not spread.
