Mpox outbreak: PM Shehbaz Sharif orders strict vigilance

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday directed for keeping strict vigilance on spread of Monkeypox (mpox) after the World Health Organization (WHO) had declared its outbreak as public health emergency.

Chairing an important meeting on the measures being taken against spread of mpox virus, the prime minister directed for ensuring effective screening measures at all airports, seaports and borders of the country, besides asking the border health services to keep complete surveillance of the situation.

He also directed the National Command and Operations Center (NCOC) to keep alertness and hold daily evaluation of the situation and asked for provision of all required gadgets and kits for the evaluation of mpox virus.

The meeting was attended by PM’s Coordinator on National Health Dr Malik Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath, Federal Secretary National Health Nadeem Mehboob, Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Lt. Gen. Inam Haider Malik, chief secretaries, chief commissioner ICT and other relevant senior officials, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.

The prime minister further directed for strengthening of coordination among the provincial governments, governments of Gilgit Baltistan and Azad and Jammu Kashmir.

He asked for the launch of effective and complete awareness campaign, besides hinting to get weekly briefing over the mpox situation

The meeting was apprised of the situation about the spread of monkeypox virus. A person in District Mardan was diagnosed as carrier of the virus.

It was told that no local transmission of mpox was detected in Pakistan.

The WHO, on August 14, had declared spread of mpox virus as public health emergency after which the NCOC had issued national advisory. The required instructions in this regard had been issued, the meeting was briefed.