Pakistan Confirms First Monkeypox Case of 2024 in Mardan Resident

Pakistan confirmed its first monkeypox case of the year as a 34-year-old man from Mardan tested positive after returning from Saudi Arabia. Health officials are conducting contact tracing. The WHO reports 99,518 cases globally. Pakistan has seen 11 cases since April 2023, with one death.

Pakistan has confirmed its first monkeypox case of 2024 after a man who recently returned from Saudi Arabia tested positive for the virus, ARY News reported, citing the Ministry of Health. The 34-year-old resident of Mardan arrived in Pakistan on August 3 and developed symptoms shortly after arriving in Peshawar. He reached out to the hospital for testing.

The diagnosis was confirmed by Khyber Medical University in Peshawar, as per ARY News, with the positive result being confirmed on August 13. This marks the first reported case of monkeypox in Pakistan this year.

Health officials have started contact tracing efforts to identify and monitor individuals who were in close contact with the patient, including fellow passengers on his flight from Saudi Arabia. Earlier in 2023, three passengers were diagnosed with monkeypox at Karachi's Jinnah International Airport.

The Director General Health reported that all three infected passengers were Pakistani citizens aged between 30 and 45. The passengers have been admitted to an infectious disease hospital. Monkeypox remains a significant global health concern, with the World Health Organization (WHO) reporting 99,518 cases and 208 deaths across 122 countries.

According to ARY News, the virus spreads through close contact and presents with symptoms such as fever, rash, and body aches, typically lasting 2 to 4 weeks. Despite the virus's spread, the WHO notes that 99 per cent of those infected survive. In Pakistan, 11 cases have been reported since April 2023, with one resulting in death.

The National Institute of Health has issued an advisory outlining guidelines for managing and preventing the spread of monkeypox, urging continued vigilance and public health monitoring. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)