Fifth Case of M-Pox Virus Reported in Peshawar, Pakistan
Pakistan has confirmed its fifth case of the M-Pox virus in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Health Minister Qasim Ali Shah announced this in a video message on Wednesday. The patient, a 33-year-old man, arrived from a Gulf country on September 7 via Islamabad International Airport and later traveled to Peshawar.
The M-Pox virus causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. While usually mild, it can be deadly, especially for children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems. The patient is currently quarantined at his home in Lower Dir and is being monitored by the district health officer.
Shah expressed concern over the lack of screening at Islamabad International Airport and called for enhanced measures. So far, over 66,000 people have been screened at entry points in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with five confirmed cases out of 17 suspected cases.
The World Health Organization has declared the M-Pox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern but clarified that it is not comparable to COVID-19 due to existing knowledge and control methods.
Doubts Revealed
M-Pox Virus -: M-Pox is a virus that can make people sick with symptoms like the flu and skin sores. It is different from COVID-19.
Peshawar -: Peshawar is a city in Pakistan, which is a country next to India.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa -: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is a province in Pakistan, similar to how Maharashtra is a state in India.
Qasim Ali Shah -: Qasim Ali Shah is the Health Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which means he is in charge of health-related matters in that province.
Gulf country -: A Gulf country is one of the countries near the Persian Gulf, like Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates.
quarantined -: Quarantined means staying at home and not meeting other people to prevent spreading the virus.
lesions -: Lesions are spots or sores on the skin that can be painful or itchy.
immune systems -: The immune system is the part of our body that helps fight off sickness. If it is weak, it is harder to stay healthy.
World Health Organization -: The World Health Organization, or WHO, is a group that helps countries around the world keep people healthy.
public health emergency -: A public health emergency is when a disease is spreading and making many people sick, so extra care is needed to stop it.