High Alert: Monkeypox hits Pakistan

Pakistan has confirmed its first case of monkeypox in an individual who had traveled from another country, according to the Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination.

The person arrived in Pakistan on April 17th after being deported from Saudi Arabia and was showing symptoms of the virus. The National Institute of Health in Islamabad has confirmed the infection, and their relatives are being screened and asked to quarantine to prevent the spread of the virus. Contact tracing is underway, and airports across the country have been put on high alert. Monkeypox is a viral illness transmitted to humans through physical contact with infected animals, contaminated materials, or an infected person. Symptoms include skin rash, fever, headache, and swollen lymph nodes. Supportive care is the standard treatment, while vaccines and therapeutics developed for smallpox can also be used in some cases. The current global outbreak that started in May 2022 has affected over 78,000 people, and the WHO is providing guidance to affected countries.