Islamabad: The federal health authorities have confirmed a new case of Monkeypox after laboratory surveys at the National Institute of Health (NIH) identified the viral infection of a 42-year-old man from Attock District, recently returned from the golf.
According to NIH officials, the patient arrived from Village Malla Mansoor, Tehsil Hazro, Attock, to Islamabad Airport on August 15 from the Gulf State.
He was immediately referred to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) after the healthcare staff observed visible symptoms of Monkeypox, including body rashes and fever.
The hospital’s officials revealed that the man had experienced undocumented fever for the past eight days while still in the Gulf State, followed by the appearance of papules on his face and body five days earlier.
After his arrival in Pakistan, the patient was isolated and samples were sent to NIH, which on August 18 confirmed Monkeypox infection. The health authorities said the patient has been placed during strict home insulation and his condition is closely monitored.
Officials also revealed that the patient worked as a worker in Middle Eastern country and reportedly had been in contact with a confirmed Monkeypox case there before they developed symptoms. His case story suggests that the disease can be imported through international journey, which raises concerns about potential transmission risks.
Monkeypox is a viral disease that spreads through close contact and causes fever, rash, raised lymph nodes and in some cases serious complications.
The Ministry of National Health Services has instructed provincial health departments to strengthen the monitoring and secure screening of incoming travelers at airports to prevent further spread.
Pakistan had previously discovered occasional cases of monkeypox in travelers, but officials insist that there is currently no evidence of local transmission. However, sources have said that cases of local transmission had emerged in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recently.
Experts warn that timely detection, insulation and contact tracking remains critical for preventing community scattering.
The confirmation of the case is in the midst of rising international alarms about the resurgence of Monkeypox in several countries.
Pakistani health officials have encouraged the public not to panic, but to seek immediate medical attention if they develop unexplained fever and skin lesions, especially after international trips.
