Pakistan detected its first case of monkeypox in 2024 on Thursday, involving a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) resident who returned from Saudi Arabia. This development follows a recent alert issued by the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) to prevent disease spread through international travellers.
Officials from the federal health ministry identified the infected individual as a resident of Dir who is currently living in Mardan. The man tested positive for monkeypox after returning from Saudi Arabia on August 3.
In response, health ministry officials have initiated contact tracing and collected additional samples from those who interacted with the patient. Border Health Services have been instructed to enhance monitoring at all entry points to prevent further spread.
An important session chaired by the DG Health at the Health Ministry emphasized advisory guidelines and protocols to contain monkeypox.
Provincial authorities have been directed to appoint focal persons to monitor and report on disease developments. This action follows the World Health Organization’s recent declaration of monkeypox a global health emergency.
Pakistan reported nine monkeypox cases last year, all linked to travellers returning from the Middle East and other regions. Unfortunately, one patient co-infected with HIV and monkeypox passed away in Islamabad.
During a special NCOC session on monkeypox, it was highlighted that 15 African countries are currently reporting cases, with recent expansions to Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda since mid-July 2024.
According to NIH officials, WHO data from January 2022 to June 2024 documented 99,176 confirmed monkeypox cases and 208 deaths across 162 countries. June 2024 alone saw 934 new cases, predominantly from Africa, followed by the Americas and Europe.
WHO cautions about a decline in reporting, urging continuous vigilance and ‘zero reporting’ even in the absence of cases to monitor disease trends effectively.
Monkeypox Disease: A Brief Overview
Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus, a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus. It was first discovered in 1958 in monkeys used for research, but its primary hosts are rodents. The first human case was identified in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Monkeypox Symptoms
- Initial Signs: Fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, swollen lymph nodes, chills, and exhaustion.
- Rash: Develops 1–3 days after the fever, starting on the face and spreading to other parts of the body. The rash progresses through stages—macules, papules, vesicles, pustules—before scabbing and healing.
Monkeypox disease Transmission
- Animal to Human: Through bites, scratches, or direct contact with infected animals or their bodily fluids.
- Human to Human: Through respiratory droplets, close contact with infected lesions, or contaminated materials like bedding.
Prevention from the disease
- Avoid contact with potentially infected animals or individuals.
- Practice good hygiene and use personal protective equipment (PPE) in healthcare settings.
- Vaccination with the smallpox vaccine offers cross-protection.
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