Pakistan Confirms First Monkeypox Case of 2024
Pakistan has confirmed its first monkeypox case of the year after a 34-year-old man from Mardan, who recently returned from Saudi Arabia, tested positive for the virus. The man arrived in Pakistan on August 3 and developed symptoms shortly after reaching Peshawar. His diagnosis was confirmed by Khyber Medical University on August 13.
Health officials have started contact tracing to identify and monitor individuals who were in close contact with the patient, including fellow passengers on his flight from Saudi Arabia.
Earlier in 2023, three passengers were diagnosed with monkeypox at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport. The Director General Health reported that all three passengers were Pakistani citizens aged between 30 and 45 and were admitted to the infectious disease hospital.
Monkeypox remains a significant global health issue, with the World Health Organization (WHO) reporting 99,518 cases and 208 deaths across 122 countries. The virus spreads through close contact and presents with symptoms such as fever, rash, and body aches, typically lasting 2 to 4 weeks. Despite the spread, the WHO notes that 99 per cent of those infected survive.
In Pakistan, 11 cases have been reported since April 2023, with one resulting in death. The National Institute of Health has issued guidelines for managing and preventing the spread of monkeypox, urging continued vigilance and public health monitoring.
Doubts Revealed
Monkeypox -: Monkeypox is a disease caused by a virus. It can make people feel very sick with fever and a rash.
Saudi Arabia -: Saudi Arabia is a country in the Middle East. Many people visit it for religious reasons or work.
Khyber Medical University -: Khyber Medical University is a big school in Peshawar, Pakistan, where people study to become doctors and nurses.
Peshawar -: Peshawar is a large city in Pakistan. It is known for its history and culture.
Health officials -: Health officials are people who work to keep everyone healthy. They make sure diseases don’t spread.
Tracing contacts -: Tracing contacts means finding and talking to people who were near someone sick to see if they might get sick too.
Jinnah International Airport -: Jinnah International Airport is a big airport in Karachi, Pakistan. Many people fly in and out of this airport.
WHO -: WHO stands for World Health Organization. It is a group that helps countries keep people healthy all around the world.
Globally -: Globally means all around the world. It includes every country and place on Earth.
