Monkeypox case reported in Pakistan

(Web Desk): A case of monkeypox has been reported in Pakistan, involving a 42-year-old man who recently traveled from Dubai to Islamabad. According to sources from the National Institute of Health (NIH), the patient is a resident of Attock and arrived in Islamabad from Dubai on August 15.

Sources stated that the Border Health Services (BHS) staff identified monkeypox symptoms in the traveler, after which he was immediately transferred from the airport to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). The NIH confirmed the presence of the virus in the patient on August 18. He is currently in home isolation.

What is Monkeypox?

Monkeypox is a rare viral zoonotic disease that was initially found in monkeys. Since 1970, it has mainly spread in West Africa. Although some cases had been reported in regions like Europe and the U.S. in the past, the majority were confined to Africa. However, recent outbreaks outside Africa have raised global concern.

Experts explain that monkeypox spreads primarily through close contact and is not as contagious as COVID-19. Human-to-human transmission is possible, which is why social distancing is often advised.

It is generally believed that monkeypox spreads through unsafe sexual contact, and in many cases, it has affected individuals engaged in same-sex relationships—though not exclusively.

The virus can enter the body through broken skin, the respiratory tract, or mucous membranes like the eyes, nose, or mouth. After the onset of fever, a rash typically appears within one to three days, often beginning on the face and then spreading to other parts of the body. Other symptoms include headaches, muscle aches, fatigue, and lymph node swelling.

The incubation period usually ranges from 7 to 14 days, but it can vary from 5 to 21 days. The illness typically lasts between two to four weeks.