Three Confirmed Cases of Monkeypox in KP

APP

Peshawar: Director Public Health, Dr Irshad Ahmad Roghani says that three confirmed cases of monkeypox disease have been reported in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, and all the patients have returned from Gulf countries. 

In an official statement issued on Friday, Dr Irshad announced that the Health Department is setting up isolation wards dedicated to Mpox patients. Additionally, COVID response teams have been reactivated at their assigned duty stations. Contact tracing of suspected cases is underway to assess the potential spread of the virus, he noted.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has already declared a global public health emergency to curb the transmission of the newly identified Mpox strain.

Meanwhile, Dr Irshad affirmed that the KP Health Department is prioritising both surveillance and preventive measures to mitigate the outbreak.

It is pertinent to mention that Mpox, a rare zoonotic virus closely related to smallpox, was formerly referred to as monkeypox. According to Global Perspective Human Stories of the United Nations News, the virus is typically found in parts of Africa but has been detected in other regions.

It manifests through flu-like symptoms, including fever, chills, and a rash that may persist for weeks. Although there is no definitive cure for Mpox, the virus often resolves on its own.

In endemic regions, between three to six percent of Mpox cases can result in severe medical complications or even death.

Vulnerable groups, such as newborns, children, and immunocompromised individuals, are at a heightened risk of experiencing more severe symptoms and fatal outcomes.