NCOC issues advisory as Pakistan’s mpox cases rise to three

ISLAMABAD: The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has issued an advisory to deal with mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, as the country’s first suspected case for 2024 was reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), mpox has been reported in 122 countries, with 99,518 confirmed cases and 208 deaths to date. In Pakistan, a total of 11 cases with one death have been reported since the first cases were detected in April 2023.

The WHO has declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years, following an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that has spread to neighboring countries.

The outbreak has been attributed to the Clade 1b subclade, which causes more severe disease than Clade 2b, with a higher fatality rate.

Health authorities in Pakistan have been directed to enhance monitoring at all entry points of the country, and provinces have been instructed to appoint focal persons to deal with mpox-related developments.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has issued guidelines for dealing with the infection, emphasizing the importance of isolation, strict precautions, and hand washing routines.

Mpox can spread through close contact and causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions on the body. While usually mild, it can be fatal in rare cases.

The NIH has advised people to take strict precautions, keep the environment clean, and ensure the use of masks by medical staff.

The public is urged to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to prevent the spread of mpox.