Second Mpox Case Reported in Pakistan

Another suspected case of Mpox has been reported in Peshawar, marking the second potential instance of the virus in Pakistan.

The patient, who had recently returned from a Gulf country, exhibited symptoms at Peshawar Airport and was promptly transferred to a hospital for further examination, according to the Ministry of Health.

This follows the confirmation of two Mpox cases in the country, prompting the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to issue an urgent advisory.

The advisory calls for heightened surveillance, enhanced diagnostic capabilities, and robust preventive measures across the nation.

Mpox, characterized by a distinctive rash and symptoms such as fever, headache, and muscle aches, has an incubation period of 7 to 14 days and can last up to four weeks. Health authorities urge the public to practice good hygiene and seek medical attention if symptoms arise.

Mpox is now considered a global health emergency as cases surge in Central Africa and a new subtype of the virus, which causes severe illness, spreads to multiple countries — prompting concerns about a lockdown over the virus formerly known as monkeypox in the U.S.