Pakistan: first locally transmitted Mpox case in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

The Health Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has confirmed another case of Mpox in the province, the first locally transmitted. All previous cases have been identified among people returning from foreign travel. The new case is a woman whose husband recently returned from a Gulf country and tested positive for the disease after exhibiting symptoms. She was admitted to hospital with fever and body aches on February 18 and later showed the skin rashes and moles typical of Mpox. Her samples were quickly collected and sent to the Public Health Reference Laboratory at Khyber Medical University in Peshawar, which confirmed the diagnosis on February 21. Director of Public Health Dr Fazal Majeed said the woman’s husband developed fever and rashes after returning to Pakistan. Still, he did not seek medical attention and remained home for 10 to 15 days. All family members and close contacts are now isolated at home. Dr Majeed urged the public to stay vigilant about the spread of Mpox and to seek immediate medical attention if suspicious symptoms appear.