A suspected case of Mpox (Monkeypox) has been reported at PIMS Hospital in Islamabad. The focal person, Dr. Naseem Akhtar, confirmed that the affected 47-year-old individual is a resident of Azad Kashmir.
Dr. Naseem Akhtar stated that the affected person arrived in Pakistan from Saudi Arabia, and samples from the individual have been sent to the NIH for testing.
It is noteworthy that on August 16, two more cases of Mpox were reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, bringing the total number of affected individuals in the country to three.
A day earlier, the first suspected case of Mpox was reported in Pakistan, following which the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) issued an advisory on measures to combat the disease.
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After cases spread to neighboring countries of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the World Health Organization declared Mpox, which had spread across Africa, a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, which is the highest level of alert by the organization.
Prior Mpox cases have been reported in Pakistan, but it was not immediately clear which variant was identified in the patients.
The Director-General of Health Services in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Saleem Khan, said that Mpox was confirmed in two of the patients.
He further mentioned that samples from the third patient have been sent to the National Institute of Health in Islamabad for confirmation, and all three patients are being kept in quarantine.
The provincial health department reported that viral infection was diagnosed in patients arriving from the United Arab Emirates.
How Many Types of Mpox Are There?
According to a BBC report, there are two main types of Mpox: Clade One and Clade Two.
The Mpox Public Health Emergency declared in 2022 was due to Clade Two.
This virus spread to nearly 100 countries, including some in Europe and Asia, where it is not commonly found. However, it was controlled with vaccination. This time, though, it is the much more lethal Clade One.
Around September of last year, the virus underwent changes, resulting in the emergence of a variant called Clade One B, which has since been spreading rapidly.
Scientists have labeled this new variant as “the most dangerous so far.”
According to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 14,500 Mpox infections and more than 450 deaths occurred from the start of 2024 to the end of July.
This represents a 160% increase in infections and a 19% increase in deaths compared to the same period in 2023.
Although 96% of Mpox cases are in the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo), the disease has spread to many neighboring countries such as Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, where it is uncommon.
In the DRC, access to Mpox vaccines and treatment is very limited, and health authorities are concerned about the spread of the disease.
Experts say that the new variant may spread more easily, leading to more severe illnesses and deaths among children and adults.
What Are the Symptoms of Mpox?
Initial symptoms include fever, headache, swelling, back pain, and muscle aches.
After the fever subsides, a rash may develop, often starting on the face and then spreading to other parts of the body, typically the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
The rash can be extremely itchy or painful.
It goes through various stages before eventually forming scabs, which can later lead to sores.
The infection usually resolves on its own and lasts between 14 to 21 days.
In severe cases, sores can cover the entire body, particularly the mouth, eyes, and genital areas.
