ISLAMABAD: A suspected case of Mpox has been reported at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad, according to the hospital’s spokesperson.
The affected individual, who recently returned from abroad, has been admitted to a specially designated isolation ward at the hospital.
Dr. Naseem Akhtar, a senior official at PIMS, confirmed that the patient is currently under observation and receiving necessary medical care.
So far this is the first case of Mpox that has been reported in Islamabad this year.
The hospital has implemented strict infection control protocols to prevent any potential spread of the virus.
Mpox, a viral disease that has been monitored closely by health authorities, presents symptoms similar to smallpox, including fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes. The hospital’s response reflects the government’s broader public health efforts to manage and contain any possible outbreaks of infectious diseases.
The identity and nationality of the patient have not been disclosed, and further tests are being conducted to confirm the diagnosis.
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The newly identified variant of monkeypox, which has sparked international concern, was first confirmed outside Africa in Sweden on August 15. This strain appears to spread more easily through routine close contact, prompting heightened vigilance worldwide.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, local health authorities confirmed on Friday that one case of monkeypox had been detected in the province.
Meanwhile, the national health ministry has ramped up contact tracing and airport surveillance. Extra health personnel have been deployed to monitor travelers and enhance screening procedures. Federal Ministry of Health spokesperson Sajid Shah confirmed that while the new variant has not yet been officially identified in the patient, genome sequencing is underway to determine the exact strain. “Once that’s done, we will be able to say what strain is this,” Shah had said.