Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistan has reported its first confirmed cases of mpox, with three individuals testing positive for the viral infection upon arrival from the United Arab Emirates. The health department in the northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province issued the alert on Friday.
Authorities have quarantined all three patients as investigations into the specific strain of the virus continue. Samples from one of the patients have been sent to the National Health Institute in Islamabad for further analysis.
The development comes as the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the recent mpox outbreak a global health emergency. A new variant of the virus has been identified, sparking concerns worldwide. While Pakistan has previously recorded isolated mpox cases, the latest detections underscore the potential for wider spread.
Meanwhile, global health officials have confirmed a new strain of the mpox virus in Sweden, linked to the ongoing outbreak in Africa. This marks the first time the variant has been detected outside the continent.
The WHO declared the African outbreak a public health emergency last week after cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo spread to neighboring countries. To date, the outbreak has claimed over 1,100 lives, primarily among children.
Mpox, also known as monkeypox, is characterized by a painful rash, swollen lymph nodes, and fever. In severe cases, the illness can lead to complications.
