The World Health Organization (WHO) has strengthened its alert level for MPOX (formerly known as monkeypox), and related cases have also been reported in Pakistan.
On the 16th (local time), according to AP News and others, Pakistan's Ministry of Health stated that the patient recently returned from a Middle Eastern country and that it is currently being confirmed whether the infection is caused by a new variant of the virus. This patient is the first MPOX case reported in Pakistan this year, and the symptoms are known to be mild at present.
The Ministry of Health of Pakistan added in a statement that it has instructed all land border checkpoints and airport staff to strengthen surveillance activities and to collect samples if any returning individuals show symptoms of MPOX infection.
On the 14th, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the declaration of MPOX as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). This is the highest level of alert that WHO can issue, enabling enhanced research, funding support, and international public health measures and cooperation to control the disease. Previously, WHO declared MPOX as a PHEIC in July 2022 but lifted it in May last year due to a slowdown in its spread. However, as MPOX rapidly spread mainly in Africa from early this year, the PHEIC was re-declared after 1 year and 3 months.
MPOX, which was an endemic disease in Central and West Africa, spread worldwide starting in May 2022. Infection with MPOX often causes vesicular rash symptoms and may be accompanied by acute fever, headache, and muscle pain.
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