ISLAMABAD – Health authorities have confirmed a new case of monkeypox (Mpox) in Pakistan after a passenger returning from the Gulf tested positive. The patient, a resident of Attock, developed symptoms shortly after landing in Islamabad on Friday.
Initially admitted to PIMS Hospital in Islamabad, he was later shifted to THQ Hospital Hazro for further treatment. The National Institute of Health (NIH) has confirmed his diagnosis.
Meanwhile, another passenger from the Gulf suspected of carrying the virus tested negative.
Monkeypox, officially renamed Mpox by the World Health Organization (WHO), is a rare viral disease with symptoms similar to smallpox, including fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, and rashes that spread across the body.
Health experts caution that the virus spreads through close contact, including broken skin, respiratory droplets, and contact with the eyes, nose, or mouth. The incubation period typically ranges from 7 to 14 days, with the illness lasting two to four weeks.
Authorities have urged travelers and the public to remain vigilant, practice social distancing, and seek medical attention if symptoms appear.
