ISLAMABAD: An inquiry has been initiated by the health ministry after a Mpox patient, arriving from a Gulf country on September 7, went unnoticed 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.
Contact tracing is underway for fellow travelers, and there’s a proposal to relocate the Border Health Services headquarters from Karachi to Islamabad for better oversight.
This incident follows Pakistan’s fifth pox case, confirmed by a 33-year-old Peshawar resident who returned from Saudi Arabia on September 7.
The patient has been put under isolation at his house in Lower Dir, Qasim Ali Shah said.
In response to the rising Mpox cases, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has issued an urgent advisory, urging enhanced surveillance, improved diagnostics, and robust preventive measures.
The public is advised to stay informed, maintain good hygiene, and seek medical attention if symptoms arise.
