Pakistan’s health ministry confirmed a case of mpox in a patient who had recently returned from a Gulf country. This was announced on Friday, August 16.
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Although the specific strain of the virus remains undetermined, health officials are actively sequencing the sample to identify the variant, according to Al Jazeera.
This case has heightened global concerns, as a new, more transmissible variant of mpox, named Clade 1, has been identified.
ALSO READ: Mpox outbreak in Africa declared global health emergency
The health department in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province initially reported three cases of mpox but later corrected this to one confirmed case.
The patient, who had returned from Saudi Arabia, is currently untraceable after receiving initial tests in Peshawar and moving to another district.
Authorities are engaged in contact tracing and enhancing surveillance at airports to manage the potential spread.
The new Clade 1 variant of mpox, which spreads more easily through close contact, was detected in Sweden on Thursday, August 15. This marks the first confirmed case of this variant outside Africa.
The World Health Organization (WHO) responded by declaring the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. Despite the severity of the situation, the WHO has advised against travel restrictions, arguing that such measures are ineffective.
The outbreak of Clade 1, which has contributed to a surge in cases in DR Congo, has raised alarm. DR Congo has reported over 27,000 cases and more than 1,100 deaths since January 2023, mainly affecting children and those with weakened immune systems.
The outbreak has also spread to neighbouring countries, including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. The WHO’s highest level of alert was issued on Wednesday, August 14 reflecting the seriousness of the situation.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has elevated its risk level for mpox from "low” to "moderate” and warned of more imported cases.
France escalated its public health alert to the maximum level due to concerns over the virus’s spread. ECDC director, Dr Pamela Rendi Wagner stressed the need to prepare for additional imported cases due to the interconnectedness between Europe and Africa.
In response to the global threat, China announced on Friday, August 16, that it will begin screening people and goods entering the country for mpox over the next six months.
On Thursday, Danish drugmaker Bavarian Nordic pledged to produce up to 10 million doses of mpox vaccine by 2025 and seeks European approval for its use in children aged 12 and older.
ALSO READ: WHO seeks mpox vaccine manufacturers for emergency evaluation amid surging outbreak
The WHO highlighted the importance of international cooperation and funding to enhance research and health systems in response to the outbreak.
WHO’s declaration aims to mobilise resources for combating the virus and accelerating health measures.
Mpox, caused by the monkeypox virus, typically presents with flu-like symptoms, pus-filled lesions, and muscular pain. Although usually mild, experts say it can be severe or fatal, particularly for children, pregnant women, and those with frail immune systems.