ISLAMABAD: Pakis­tan reported its first suspected case of mpox this year, prompting the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) to issue an advisory on Thursday on measures to deal with the disease.

The Punjab government has also put international airports, public sector hospitals, and district health authorities across the province on high alert, urging them to implement precautionary measures.

The development came a day after the World Health Organisation (WHO) dec­lared that the increasing spread of mpox in Africa is a global health emergency, warning the virus might ultimately spill across international borders.

Sajid Shah, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, confirmed that the suspected case was reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“The individual, who rec­ently returned from the Gulf region, is exhibiting minor symptoms con­sistent with mpox,” Mr Shah told Dawn.

“Sam­ples have been collected and sent to the National Institute of Health (NIH) for confirmation.”

Health officials have begun contact tracing to prevent local transmission, with additional samples being analysed. Mr Shah also stated that all provinces had been instructed to designate focal persons for mpox-related matters.

Additi­onally, Border Health Services has been directed to intensify monitoring at all of the country’s entry points.

Sources in the NIH said that the suspect was around 23 to 24 years old and was out of danger. “The suspect has been quarantined at their residence. However, it would not be appropriate to mention the person’s name or their city of residence,” an official said.

WHO said there have been more than 14,000 cases and 524 deaths in Africa this year, which already exceed last year’s figures.

So far, more than 96 per cent of all cases and deaths are in a single country — Congo — as scientists are concerned by the spread of a new version of the disease that might be more easily transmitted.

NCOC advisory

Meanwhile, a meeting of the NCOC was held in the NIH and was physically or virtually attended by health authorities from across the country.

According to the NCOC advisory, seen by Dawn, mpox has been reported in all WHO regions, including 122 countries.

“In Pakistan, a total of 11 cases with one death has been reported since first cases were detected in April 2023,” it added.

Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is a rare viral zoonotic disease.

Tho­ugh the natural reservoir of the virus remains unkn­own, African rodents and non-human primates are suspected carriers.

The disease often begins with a fever, followed by a rash that typically starts on the face before spreading to other parts of the body.

The NCOC advisory hig­h­lighted two types of mpox virus: Clade I, associated with more severe illness and higher mortality rates, and Clade II, which is less severe and responsible for the ongoing global outbreak since 2022.

The virus is transmitted through contact with infected animals, humans, or contaminated materials. Human-to-human transmission can occur through direct or indirect contact with bodily fluids, lesion material, or contaminated clothing and linens.

For confirmed mpox cases, patient management includes isolation in a single room with a private bathroom, and the use of appropriate personal protective equipment to prevent transmission.

The treatment is primarily supportive, with no specific antiviral therapy, though some antiviral medications have shown efficacy in severe cases.

Strict infection prevent­ion and control measures, including hand hygiene, env­­ironmental cleaning, and disinfection, are essential, according to the advisory.

Meanwhile, in its alert issued on Thursday, the Punjab Directorate Gene­ral of Health Services (DGHS) has directed hea­lth authorities across the province to disseminate the advisory to all public and private hospitals.

The DGHS has also urged close coordination with health establishments to monitor international passengers at airports and other entry points for potential mpox cases.

Asif Chaudhry in Lahore also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2024