ISLAMABAD: After the confirmation of the first mpox case in Pakistan, the prime minister’s coordinator for health directed Border Health Services on Friday to implement strict monitoring at all entry points of the country, including airports, to prevent the spread of the virus.

“We are monitoring the situation closely, moment by moment,” Dr Mukhtar Ahmed Bharath said during a high-level meeting held to assess the implications of the confirmed mpox case. He assured that the country’s current response actions are robust and adequate to handle the situation.

The meeting was attended by Director General of Health Dr Shabana Saleem, the executive director of the National Institute of Health (NIH) and other medical experts, with representatives from provincial governments participating via video link.

Dr Mukhtar emphasised the urgency of the situation following the detection of a positive mpox case in the Mardan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The infected individual had recently returned from a Gulf country, prompting concerns about potential transmission.

PM’s health coordinator says comprehensive screening systems in place at all airports

Dr Mukhtar reassured the public that comprehensive screening systems are in place at all airports, with Border Health Services staff maintaining constant communication with provincial health authorities. “Provincial governments are also ensuring that all necessary measures are being implemented,” he added.

Health ministry spokesperson Sajid Shah confirmed that contact tracing for the Mardan case has begun, with additional samples being collected from potential contacts.

“Health personnel across the country will be visiting airports to oversee the screening and surveillance systems, ensuring that protocols are effectively in place. This initiative aims to bolster coordination between airport authorities and provincial health departments,” Mr Shah said.

“The Ministry of Health remains committed to taking practical steps to safeguard the public from illnesses and outbreaks, underscoring the collective efforts being made to ensure community health safety amid the mpox threat,” he said. “As the situation evolves, health officials will continue to monitor developments closely, prioritising public health and safety across the nation.”

According to an NIH document seen by Dawn, mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is an infectious disease caused by the mpox virus, a double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the Orthopoxvirus genus within the Poxviridae family, which includes variola, cowpox, vaccinia and other viruses.

The virus, discovered in monkeys in Denmark in 1958, was first identified in humans in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Since then, cases have been reported in several central and western African countries and have spread globally due to international travel or imported animals.

Globally, as of June 30, 2024, a total of 99,176 mpox cases and 208 associated deaths have been reported. The highest number of cases has been recorded in the Americas, followed by Europe, Africa, the Western Pacific, Southeast Asia, and the Eastern Mediterranean regions.

The United States leads the global count with 33,191 cases, followed by Brazil (11,212), Spain (8,084), France (4,272), Colombia (4,249), Mexico (4,124), the United Kingdom (3,952), Peru (3,875), Germany (3,857), and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2,999).

This marks the first time that Congo has featured among the top 10 countries that have rep­orted the highest cumulative number of confirmed cases globally. These 10 countries account for 81pc of the cases reported across the world.

The World Health Organisation declared mpox a Public Health Emergency of Interna­tional Concern in May 2022. While the natural reservoir of the virus remains unknown, various small mammals such as squirrels, monkeys and rodents are believed to be susceptible to the virus.

Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2024