Following the World Health Organization’s declaration of monkeypox as a health emergency, countries worldwide are scrambling to implement emergency measures to curb the spread of this disease. Pakistan has also commenced stringent protective measures to prevent the disease from spreading further. The Prime Minister has directed that, as of yesterday, rigorous screening of passengers at airports, seaports, and borders be enforced and a nationwide awareness campaign be launched. Additionally, effective coordination with provincial governments has been mandated to contain the outbreak. Recent weeks have seen a few suspected cases of monkeypox in Pakistan, and the country has already experienced a fatality from the disease last year. The first confirmed case in Pakistan was reported in April 2023, followed by the diagnosis of a female patient in May 2023, and a subsequent death of a patient undergoing treatment in the federal capital in December 2023.
The Pakistani government had issued a warning about monkeypox in May 2022, at a time when the disease was primarily spreading in African and European countries. Originally a disease found in monkeys, monkeypox began spreading in the western part of Africa after 1970 and remained largely confined there for several decades. Although a few cases appeared in Europe and the United States in the past, the majority of cases were in Africa. However, the recent appearance of monkeypox in other regions has raised global concern. Monkeypox can be transmitted from human to human, which has prompted experts to recommend ensuring social distancing. The virus enters the body through broken skin, respiratory tract, or mucous membranes such as the eyes, nose, or mouth. After the onset of fever, a rash typically appears within one to three days, starting on the face and then spreading to other parts of the body.
Other symptoms include headaches, muscle aches, and fatigue. The incubation period for the virus generally ranges from 7 to 14 days, though it can extend from 5 to 21 days. The disease typically lasts between two to four weeks. The latest wave of monkeypox began in May 2022 in England and rapidly spread across Europe, then to the Americas and Asia. Although the spread of the disease has been slow over the past two years, it has gradually continued. The recent global increase in cases has prompted the WHO to declare it a health emergency. In this context, Pakistan’s precautionary measures are both crucial and timely. In addition to federal and provincial governments, local authorities must also be vigilant in this matter. If symptoms of the disease appear in any individual, they should be quarantined without delay, with their social interactions severely restricted and treatment administered under the supervision of qualified doctors.
The federal and provincial governments have allocated isolation wards and beds in major hospitals for potential monkeypox patients. The National Command and Operation Center has issued advisories that must be implemented nationwide. Pakistan was severely impacted by the global COVID-19 pandemic, which nearly suspended economic activities. Therefore, it is essential to effectively prevent the spread of monkeypox to safeguard both the health of the nation and the ongoing economic recovery process.
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