ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan government has convened a high-level meeting on September 3 in Islamabad to discuss the current Monkeypox situation across the country, local media reported on Sunday.
Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Coordinator for the Prime Minister’s Health Sector, will chair the high-level meeting. Key stakeholders including provincial secretaries, directors general of health, and representatives from the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the National Command and Operations Center (NCOC) will attend the meeting, local media reported.
The meeting’s agenda includes a comprehensive briefing on the current Monkeypox situation, an assessment of the arrangements made to combat the virus, and discussions on potential procurement of the Mpox vaccine.
The meeting was summoned in response to the confirmation of a fourth Monkeypox case reported from Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Ministry of Health said that the affected individual, a 47-year-old who had recently returned from abroad, was isolated on August 29 by Border Health Services staff based on symptoms indicative of the virus.
Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed emphasized the effectiveness of the ongoing screening systems at airports, stating that Pakistan has implemented robust measures to prevent the spread of Monkeypox. He assured that both federal and provincial governments are in close coordination, with the Ministry of Health actively monitoring the situation and taking timely actions.
Meanwhile, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has issued an urgent advisory in response to an unprecedented global outbreak. The advisory aims to provide a detailed overview of the Monkeypox situation and offers guidance on prevention, detection, and response strategies.
Health authorities, healthcare providers, and public health organizations are urged to enhance surveillance, improve diagnostic capabilities, and adopt effective preventive measures to curb the virus’s spread. The public is advised to remain informed, practice good hygiene, and seek medical attention if symptoms develop.
Monkeypox is a viral disease caused by the Mpox virus, with a suspected natural reservoir in African rodents and non-human primates such as monkeys. The disease typically presents with a rash that appears 1 to 3 days after the onset of fever, beginning on the face and progressing to other parts of the body.
The rash evolves through several stages: macules, papules, vesicles, pustules, and scabs. Other symptoms include headaches, muscle aches, exhaustion, and swollen lymph nodes. The incubation period ranges from 7 to 14 days but can vary between 5 and 21 days, with the illness lasting between 2 and 4 weeks.
