ISLAMABAD: The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Saturday it was working with Pakistan to prevent the outbreak of monkeypox (Mpox) after the country reported its first case of the disease earlier this month.
Pakistan said it had isolated a resident of the federal capital suffering from the viral disease who recently returned from a visit abroad.
The health authorities said there was no evidence of local transmission of the disease, though they had been taking precautionary measures since last year in May and had examined over 20 suspected cases since then.
“The World Health Organization is working and investigating with the Government of Pakistan on Money Pox, as the situation is still evolving,” the global health agency announced in a brief statement. “Also, WHO will assist the Government of Pakistan as per their requirement especially in lab testing, Points of Entry and provision of testing kits.”
Mpox is a viral zoonotic disease caused by a pox virus (MPXV). It can be transmitted from infected animals to humans or from infected humans to others humans via close contacts and droplets.
WHO declared Mpox a public health emergency of international concern in July 2022. So far, there have been about 87,000 confirmed cases of the disease internationally with 119 related deaths.
Pakistan also put airports on high alert to ensure medical screening of inbound passengers.
The country’s health ministry said it was trying to ensure enhanced surveillance through laboratory diagnostics, contact tracing, and rapid identification of suspected cases to provide optimal clinical care and prevent the spread of the disease.
Mpox can lead to high fever, headache, exhaustion, muscle and backaches, and swollen lymph nodes.
