Pakistan Confirms Fifth Case of Mpox Virus Amid Concerns Over Screening Measures

Pakistan has confirmed its fifth mpox virus case in Peshawar. Health Minister Qasim Ali Shah emphasizes the need for enhanced screening at airports. The virus, presenting flu-like symptoms, is mild but dangerous to vulnerable groups. The WHO has classified the outbreak as a public health emergency.

Pakistan has confirmed its fifth case of the Mpox virus in Peshawar, according to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Health Minister Qasim Ali Shah. In a video message, Shah disclosed that the virus, which manifests with flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions, is typically mild but can be fatal, especially for children, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems.

The newest patient, a 33-year-old man, arrived from a Gulf country on September 7 through the Islamabad International Airport. After traveling to Peshawar, he consulted a private clinic and is now quarantined at his home in Lower Dir, with no familial contact post-arrival, Shah confirmed. Dawn reported that local health authorities are closely monitoring his condition.

Shah criticized the lack of screening at Islamabad's airport and stressed the necessity for the federal government to tighten screening processes. Over 66,000 individuals have been screened at KP entry points, identifying five confirmed cases out of 17 suspected patients. The World Health Organisation has declared the Mpox outbreak a public health emergency due to the Clade 1b variant but notes it is not comparable to COVID-19.

(With inputs from agencies.)