According to Dr. Irshad Ali Roghani, the director of public health for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Peshawar has confirmed the country’s fourth case of the mpox virus.
The mpox virus causes pus-filled lesions and flu-like symptoms. Although usually not serious, it can be fatal, and children, expectant mothers, and those with compromised immune systems are more susceptible to complications.
The new viral variety, Clade 1b, was discovered earlier this month, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to designate the latest disease epidemic a public health emergency of international significance.
The ease with which the Clade 1b variety spreads through regular close contact has raised concerns throughout the world.
The WHO has stated that the mpox outbreak, however, is not another Covid-19 because there is already a lot of knowledge about the virus and ways to contain it.
The Peshawar airport was the site of the first three viral cases, and today marks the confirmation of the fourth.
“After exhibiting symptoms during the screening, the medical team at Peshawar Airport transferred the patient (fourth case) to the Police and Services Hospital (PSH),” according to Roghani.
“Samples from the patient’s wound in the hospital were collected by the rapid response team and sent to the laboratory.”
He clarified that the patient had mpox confirmed by the Public Health Reference Laboratory and that the patient was receiving treatment at the hospital in a “stable condition.”
The fourth incidence of mpox in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to be confirmed, the doctor confirmed that the patient was from the Peshawar district.
He said, “So far, no local cases have been reported.” The health department of the province had “created an integrated surveillance and response system for mpox.”
The health ministry had previously stated that the clade 2 form of mpox was the first case found in Pakistan. Last Monday, a second incidence of mpox was verified; the patient was again found at the Peshawar airport.
On Saturday, medical staff at Bacha Khan International Airport verified the third incidence after identifying two passengers who were exhibiting symptoms of the mpox virus.
Following the spread of infections from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to neighboring countries, the WHO issued its highest level of alert for the outbreak in Africa. Since the current outbreak began in January 2023, there have been 27,000 cases and over 1,100 deaths in the DRC, the most of which have been children.
Thus far, Sweden and Thailand have confirmed one case each of the clade 1b form, marking the first indication of its spread beyond the continent. To stop the spread of mpox, the WHO has not recommended any limitations on travel.
Pus-filled lesions and flu-like symptoms are the disease’s initial manifestations. Although usually not serious, it can be fatal, and children, expectant mothers, and those with compromised immune systems are more susceptible to complications.
