PESHAWAR: The health department has directed all hospitals to establish isolation wards with proper infection control measures for effective management of the suspected cases of monkeypox in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Khyber Medical University (KMU) has also asked the hospitals to send samples of suspected patients to its Public Health Reference Laboratory as part of surveillance to detect the cases and manage them as per protocol.

A notification issued by the health department instructed the district headquarters hospitals and medical teaching institutions to establish separate isolation rooms for patients with negative pressure, hand hygiene facilities and personal protective equipments and nominate their respective focal persons to share details with it about the rare viral zoonotic disease, caused by Mpox virus.

Prof Ziaul Haq, the vice-chancellor of KMU and leading public health expert, said that there was no need to panic about the Mpox.

Health expert says there is no need to get panicked

“We had started testing of Mpox in May last year and are ready to provide surveillance testing of suspected samples,” he told this scribe.

He said that the illness was caused by Mpox virus and could spread from animals to humans. “It can also spread from humans to humans and from the environment to humans,” he added.

Some people have less severe symptoms and others may develop more serious illness and need care in a health facility. The people typically at higher risk include pregnant women, children and immune-compromised persons.

The most common symptoms of Mpox include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen lymph nodes, followed or accompanied by the development of a rash, which may last for two to three weeks. The rash can affect the face, palms of hands, soles of feet, groin, genital and or anal regions.

About protection from the virus, Prof Zia said that risk of catching Mpox from other people could be reduced by limiting close contact with the people, who had suspected or confirmed Mpox and staying informed about the disease in the relevant area or social group.

“Have open conversations with those you come into close contact (especially sexual contact) with about any symptoms you or they may have. Clean your hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub,” he said.

Prof Zia advised people to frequently clean and disinfect the commonly touched surfaces in the environments that could have been contaminated with the virus from an infectious person. Common household disinfectants or bleach products are enough to kill the virus.

“Vaccination can help to prevent infection for people at risk. Vaccine for Mpox is available but in short supply,” said Prof Zia.

In May 2022, an international outbreak of Mpox was reported. In July last year, the World Health Organisation declared the global Mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. In Pakistan two confirmed cases have been reported a few days ago.

Public Health Reference Laboratory (PHRL) in KMU has been working with the National Institute of Health Islamabad since 2017. It has conducted 1.7 million surveillance tests for Covid-19, typhoid, cholera, dengue fever, Congo fever, chikungunya, hepatitis and influenza.

“The PHRL is struggling with finances. As per the initial memorandum of understanding signed with the health department, the responsibility of providing finances to the laboratory lies with the department. However, so far any structured financial provision has not been made. It is imperative that a sustainable funding model should be developed for current and future outbreaks,” said Prof Zia.

In his message for people about the outbreak of Mpox , he said that there was no need to panic.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2023