Pakistan reports sixth mpox case in 44-year-old man

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has confirmed the sixth case of mpox after a 44-year-old suspect tested positive for the monkeypox virus, the Ministry of National Health Services said on Monday.

The suspect, who hails from the Gujarat district in Punjab, was taken into isolation after the symptoms were detected at Islamabad Airport upon his arrival from the Middle East on September 14 (Saturday).

The patient was taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) after being suspected of carrying the virus and is under consideration now.

The health officials confirmed that samples sent to the National Institute of Health (NIH) tested positive for mpox. The patient is reported to be in stable condition.

Coordinator to PM on Health, Dr. Mukhtar assured that the border health services team is ensuring effective screening systems are in place. So far, over 630,000 passengers have been screened at airports, he added.

Earlier, an inquiry was initiated by the health ministry after a mpox patient, arriving from a Gulf country on September 7, went unnoticed during screening at Islamabad International Airport.

The patient, who showed no visible symptoms, traveled to Peshawar without being screened. Health officials are investigating the possible negligence by border health services staff.

Amid the rising mpox cases worldwide including in Pakistan, the World Health Organization (WHO) has announced the pre-qualification of the MVA-BN vaccine, the first vaccine against the virus.

Approval of pre-qualification is expected to facilitate timely and increased access to this critical product in communities in urgent need, to reduce transmission, and to help contain the outbreak.

The WHO assessment for prequalification is based on information submitted by the manufacturer, Bavarian Nordic A/S, and the regulatory agency of record for this vaccine, the European Medicines Agency.