Pakistan reports 1st monkeypox case of 2024

ISLAMABAD: According to the Ministry of Health, Pakistan has confirmed the first monkeypox case of 2024.

As per the details, the case involves a 34-year-old male resident of Mardan, whose diagnosis was confirmed by the Khyber Medical University in Peshawar.

The patient, who had returned to Pakistan from Saudi Arabia on August 3, developed symptoms soon after reaching Peshawar and was rushed to the hospital for tests.

His positive diagnosis was confirmed on August 13, the first report of monkeypox in Pakistan in 2024.

Health authorities have launched 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.

Globally, monkeypox remains a major health concern, with 99,518 cases reported in 122 countries, and 208 deaths documented by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The virus, which is spread by close contact, presents with symptoms such as fever, rash and body aches, which usually last 2 to 4 weeks. Despite the outbreak, the WHO noted that 99 percent of those infected survive.

Since April 2023, 11 cases have been reported in Pakistan, out of which one death has occurred.

The National Institutes of Health has issued an advisory outline for managing and preventing the spread of monkeypox, emphasizing continued vigilance and public health surveillance.