ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has reported three suspected cases of monkeypox among passengers arriving at Karachi’s international airport, local media reported on Sunday citing sources at Karachi Airport.
The passengers showed symptoms consistent with the viral disease during routine medical screening upon their arrival from abroad.
The affected persons have been transferred to the Sindh Government Hospital in the NIPA area for further examination and medical care.
Health officials are closely monitoring their condition and conducting necessary tests to confirm or rule out monkeypox.
In response to the potential health threat, airport authorities have taken precautionary measures by disinfecting the immigration area and walkways with spray to prevent any possible spread of the virus.
Monkeypox, caused by the Mpox virus, is a viral zoonotic disease with an unclear natural reservoir. While the precise origins remain unidentified, it is believed that African rodents and non-human primates, including monkeys, may carry and transmit the virus to humans.
The disease typically presents with a rash that emerges 1 to 3 days after the initial fever, beginning on the face before spreading to other parts of the body.
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The rash progresses through several stages, transitioning from macules to papules, then vesicles, pustules, and finally scabs.
Additional symptoms of monkeypox may include headaches, muscle aches, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes. The incubation period for the disease ranges from 7 to 14 days, although it can vary from 5 to 21 days, with the illness generally lasting between 2 and 4 weeks.
