In a worrying development, Jinnah Hospital in Karachi has reported its first confirmed case of Monkeypox (Mpox) on Saturday.
Monkeypox (Mpox) is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus. It can cause a painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes and fever.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO), common symptoms of mpox include a skin rash or mucosal lesions which can last 2–4 weeks accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen lymph nodes.
Mpox can be transmitted through close contact with someone who has mpox, with contaminated materials, or with infected animals. During pregnancy, the virus may be passed to the fetus, or to the newborn during or after birth.
According to details, a patient was admitted to Jinnah Hospital suspected of having Monkeypox in Karachi. The case was confirmed after his samples were sent to Dow Hospital for laboratory testing. The results confirmed the presence of the Monkeypox in Karachi, making it the first verified case in the province.
Interestingly, the patient reportedly got infected through his wife who had a recent international travel history. She had shown symptoms of mpox before her husband was infected.
Jinnah Hospital has isolated the patient while implementing strict precautionary measures to further prevent the spread of virus.
According to WHO, healthcare workers are the most vulnerable against this virus. This makes it Karachi’s first confirmed case of Monkeypox virus.
Furthermore, WHO had also recently approved a Monkeypox virus vaccine named LC16 mpox vaccine. In 2024, African continent witnessed more than 50,000 cases of mpox and led to more than 1,000 deaths.
Read more: When will Atlas Honda launch electric bikes in Pakistan?
