KARACHI: A day after Pakistan reported its first case of mpox, viral zoonotic disease, Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) said that there was “No evidence” of localised transmission.

On Tuesday, patient from Saudi Arabia tested positive for virus, prompting authorities to beef up measures at airports and set up isolation wards in hospitals. Patient deported from Saudi Arabia arrived in country on April 17 with symptoms of disease.

According to sources in ministry, patient is resident of Mandi Bahauddin and was working as driver in Jeddah. Patients infected with disease commonly show symptoms such as rash, fever, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen lymph nodes.

According to World Health Organisation symptoms usually begin within week but can start 1-21 days after exposure.

In press release issued, NHS spokesperson Sajid Shah said that disease had been declared public health emergency in July 22 last year by WHO.

He said that mpox was viral zoonotic disease caused by pox virus and was contagious, adding that it could be transmitted from infected animals to humans or from infected humans to others humans via close contact and droplets.

“As of now, total of around 87,000 laboratory confirmed cases and 119 deaths have been reported from 111 countries globally. Number of cases reported weekly at global level peaked in August 2022 and since then cases have been steadily declining,” spokesperson said.

Published in The Daily National Courier, April, 27 2023

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