Pakistan reports 7th mpox case

A 44-year-old man from Gujarat district in Punjab has tested positive for the monkeypox virus (mpox) after arriving in Pakistan from a Gulf state, marking the seventh confirmed case in the country this year.

The patient, who landed at Islamabad Airport on September 14, was immediately taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) after showing suspected symptoms of the virus.

According to health officials, samples sent to the National Institute of Health (NIH) confirmed the presence of mpox, and the patient is currently receiving treatment in stable condition.

This latest case brings the total number of mpox cases in Pakistan to seven, with five previous cases confirmed at the Khyber Medical University laboratory in Peshawar and one more reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Wednesday.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared mpox a global health emergency last month, and Pakistan has been grappling with a rising number of cases.

Mpox is a viral disease that causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions, and while usually mild, it can be fatal, especially for children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems.

Health officials are urging citizens to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the virus.