On March 22, 2025, health authorities in Sindh province confirmed their first case of mpox (formerly known as monkeypox). The patient, a 29-year-old male from Malir district, exhibited symptoms starting on March 15 and is currently isolated in a public hospital. Notably, he has no recent travel history, suggesting possible local transmission. To stop the spread, contact tracing operations are under progress.
Mpox presents with flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. It spreads through close contact, including skin-to-skin interaction, sexual activity, or respiratory droplets. Children, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals are at higher risk for complications.
In 2024, a more virulent strain of mpox, clade I, emerged from the Democratic Republic of Congo, leading the World Health Organization to declare a global health emergency. Pakistan has not reported cases of this new strain.
