KARACHI: The Sindh Health Department confirmed the first case of monkeypox in Karachi on Thursday, as per a local news channel.
According to the health department, the patient had just arrived in Karachi from Jeddah, where he caught the disease.
Patient transferred to isolation ward in Karachi
Following confirmation, the patient was transferred to an isolation ward for medical attention, while additional samples were collected and sent to the Dow University Lab. The Sindh Health Department recommends people wash their hands and avoid close contact with people who are showing symptoms of the disease.
Earlier in the day, a World Health Organisation (WHO) team visited Islamabad International Airport to assess Pakistani authorities’ efforts to combat the spread of monkeypox. The WHO team, led by Country Head Dr. Mahipala, visited the airport to evaluate the efficiency of the measures put in place to prevent the spread of the disease.
The WHO team also examined the medical screening procedure for arriving international travelers, including passenger screening and guidelines for the isolation and treatment of suspected cases.
They also toured the airport’s numerous lounges, examining the facilities and verifying adherence to safety measures. The airport manager informed the World Health Organisation team of the airport’s anti-monkeypox procedures and expressed confidence in the safety measures taken.
Monkeypox is a rare but potentially lethal disease caused by a virus related to the human smallpox virus. It is passed down from animals to people and can be passed from person to person through intimate contact.
