As concerns about Monkeypox grow globally, Pakistan has reported two new cases, raising the total to three for 2024. All cases are located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with the latest diagnoses confirmed on Friday.
The affected individuals contracted the virus after returning from an Arab country. Following the confirmation of the first case in Peshawar on August 15, Pakistan has heightened airport surveillance. The National Health Ministry issued an advisory in response, following the diagnosis of a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa man who tested positive after returning from the Gulf. He displayed mild symptoms, and contact tracing is underway.
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Border Health Services have been instructed to enhance monitoring at all entry points, while the National Institute of Health has issued guidelines for prevention. With 99,518 confirmed cases and 208 deaths reported globally, Pakistan is setting up isolation wards, stocking antiviral drugs, and ensuring PPE availability for healthcare workers.
Additional samples from close contacts are being collected, and stricter border screening is in effect to prevent further infections. Pakistan had previously reported 10 cases linked to travelers from the Middle East, highlighting the importance of stringent border controls.
