Pakistan's health ministry has confirmed the detection of the first case of a new mpox variant, raising concerns about its potential for increased transmission. This development comes shortly after the World Health Organization declared the global spread of mpox as a health emergency.
The infected individual, a man who recently returned from a Middle Eastern country, hails from Mardan, a district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan. This marks only the second confirmed case of the new variant outside of Africa, with the first case reported in Sweden.
The health ministry has taken swift action by directing officials at border crossing points and airports to enhance surveillance measures. They are instructed to collect samples for medical testing from passengers displaying symptoms of the disease upon their return from abroad.
While the specific Middle Eastern country visited by the infected individual remains undisclosed, no cases of the new variant have been reported in that region so far. However, the United Arab Emirates has recorded 16 confirmed cases of mpox since 2022, highlighting the country's vulnerability to transnational outbreaks due to its strategic position as a major travel hub.
According to the WHO, Africa has witnessed over 14,000 cases and 524 deaths from mpox this year, surpassing last year's figures. The majority of cases and fatalities have been concentrated in Congo, accounting for more than 96% of the total.
Dr. Irshad Roghani, the director of public health for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, reported that the infected individual in Pakistan is experiencing mild symptoms. Contact tracing efforts have been initiated, and additional samples are being collected for testing. Since 2022, a total of 300 individuals have been tested in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with two positive cases identified last year and this being the first case detected in 2023.
