PESHAWAR: Pakistan has confirmed its fifth case of the mpox virus, as announced by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Health Minister Qasim Ali Shah on Wednesday. The latest patient, a 33-year-old man, tested positive in Peshawar after arriving from a Gulf country.
According to Shah, the patient landed at Islamabad International Airport on September 7 and subsequently traveled to Peshawar, where he stayed at a hotel before seeking medical attention at a private clinic. His condition prompted referral to Khyber Teaching Hospital, where testing confirmed the presence of the mpox virus. Currently, the patient is quarantined at his home in Lower Dir, having had minimal contact with others. He did not interact with relatives or have significant interactions beyond those on his flight.
District health authorities, including the Lower Dir district health officer, are monitoring his condition closely. Shah expressed concerns about the lack of screening at Islamabad International Airport, pointing out that the patient was able to leave the airport without undergoing necessary health checks. “It is troubling that a patient carrying mpox was not detected upon arrival. Many others may be leaving the airport unchecked and traveling to different regions,” Shah said. He urged federal authorities to enhance screening procedures to prevent further spread.
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