Islamabad: In response to rising concerns about Mpox infections, Pakistan’s Border Health Services have implemented enhanced precautionary measures at all entry points, including airports, according to media reports. This move aims to prevent the virus from entering the country.
The new regulations call for stricter passenger screening, focusing on individuals with suspicious wounds or symptoms associated with Mpox. The government has also directed that existing systems at entry points be upgraded to better manage the situation, as reported by ARY News.
First Mpox Case Reported in Pakistan
On Friday, the health ministry confirmed Pakistan’s first case of Mpox. The patient, who had recently returned from a Gulf country, has been identified, but the specific strain of the virus remains unknown. The case is currently undergoing genomic sequencing to determine the exact variant.
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Initially, the health department in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province reported three Mpox cases, but this was later corrected to a single confirmed case, following arrivals from the UAE, ARY News reported.
This new variant of Mpox, which appears to spread more readily through close contact, has raised global alarm. A case of this variant was confirmed in Sweden on Thursday, linked to a growing outbreak in Africa, marking its first detection outside the continent.
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Despite these concerns, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended against implementing travel restrictions to control the spread of Mpox.
