ISLAMABAD: Prime Minster (PM) Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday directed authorities to launch mpox awareness campaign.
An emergency meeting regarding mpox was held today at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad. During the meeting, the Prime Minister stated that the World Health Organisation has declared mpox a Public Health Emergency.
The Prime Minister directed the National Command and Operations Center to closely monitor the Monkeypox situation and conduct regular reviews. He also instructed that all necessary equipment and kits for Monkeypox testing be made available.
Additionally, he ordered that the screening system for Monkeypox at the country’s airports, seaports, and borders be enhanced. PM Shehbaz further instructed Border Health Services to ensure comprehensive monitoring and stringent surveillance of the situation.
Read more: Mpox vaccine unavailability triggers infection control alert
Due to the unavailability of mpox vaccine, an infection control alert has been issued in the metropolitan city of Karachi following the confirmation of at least one monkeypox case in the country.
The alert, applicable to the city’s private and government-run hospitals, comes after the Federal Health Ministry on Friday confirmed the diagnosis of mpox virus in a patient who had returned from a Gulf country.
Read more: PM Shehbaz directs authorities to launch mpox awareness campaign
More to follow