The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared mpox a global health emergency for the second time in two years, raising alarm over a new strain, clade lb, spreading rapidly across the globe. The virus has reached several countries outside Africa, including Pakistan, which reported its fifth mpox case on Sunday.
According to Geo News, Peshawar, Pakistan, is becoming the epicenter of the virus. The latest patient, a 47-year-old man, tested positive after being isolated upon arrival from an undisclosed Gulf country. He displayed mpox symptoms and was isolated at the Bacha Khan International Airport.
This latest case marks the fifth mpox case reported in Pakistan this year, and the fourth since the WHO declared the virus a global health emergency. The other cases have been reported from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. On August 28, a 51-year-old man returning from Saudi Arabia was also isolated in Peshawar.
The re-emergence of mpox in Peshawar has sparked serious concerns about its transmission and the need for immediate action. Authorities are concerned about the virus spreading from travelers arriving from West Asia.
In response to the growing concern, authorities have implemented stringent screening protocols at all airports across the country. The Federal Director General of Health, Dr. Shabana Saleem, has emphasized the need for vigilance and public cooperation. She urged people to comply with health advisories, particularly those returning from high-risk regions.
While the clade lb strain has not been diagnosed in Pakistan, other countries in the region have also been impacted. Thailand confirmed its first mpox case of the clade lb strain on August 22, involving a 66-year-old European man who had traveled from an African country. Singapore has reported 13 cases of mpox Clade 2 infections this year, while the Philippines has confirmed two more cases of the milder clade 2 variety.
India, while not reporting any cases yet, is on high alert. The health ministry has instructed heightened vigilance at all international airports and land ports, especially those bordering Bangladesh and Pakistan. The country has designated three central government-run hospitals in New Delhi and approved three indigenously developed kits for detecting mpox. China has also increased surveillance at ports of entry following the recent mpox cases in Pakistan, sanitizing aircraft and vessels carrying containers and cargo from countries with confirmed cases. Similarly, Japan and South Korea are on alert.
The increasing number of mpox cases worldwide underscores the urgent need for global cooperation and coordinated efforts to contain the spread of the virus. Health officials and experts continue to monitor the situation closely and work diligently to develop effective prevention and treatment strategies.
