Pakistan reported its eighth case of the year involving the Monkeypox virus, in a passenger who arrived from Saudi Arabia. The 30-year-old laborer, who landed at Islamabad Airport on Wednesday, exhibited fever and other symptoms consistent with the virus.
Patient’s Condition and Isolation
Upon arrival, the passenger, a resident of Upper Dir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, was transferred to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for further medical evaluation. After testing, he was confirmed as a positive case of Monkeypox. The official from the National Institute of Health (NIH) confirmed that the patient is currently in stable condition and has been placed in the isolation ward.
Contact Tracing and Precautionary Measures
Authorities have already initiated contact tracing of passengers who were seated near the patient on the flight. Additionally, the Saudi Arabian authorities have been notified to trace individuals who might have come into contact with the laborer during his stay and work in the country. So far, all reported cases of Monkeypox in Pakistan have been linked to passengers arriving from abroad, with no local transmission cases detected, officials stated.
Monkeypox Virus and Global Concerns
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared Monkeypox a global emergency on August 14, 2022. The virus, which causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled skin lesions, is known to spread through close contact. There are two primary clades of the virus: Clade I and Clade II. The recent outbreak, which occurred globally between 2022 and 2023, was predominantly caused by Clade II, known for producing milder symptoms compared to Clade I.
No Reported Cases of Clade I in Pakistan
Officials confirmed that there have been no reported cases of Clade I of the Monkeypox virus in Pakistan so far. The outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was primarily associated with Clade Ib, which has more severe symptoms than Clade II. Pakistan’s health authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as global concerns over the spread of the virus persist.
Conclusion
The Monkeypox virus remains a global health concern, but as of now, Pakistan has not reported any local transmission. Authorities are closely tracking incoming passengers and have heightened surveillance at international airports to detect any further cases of this infectious disease.
