ISLAMABAD: Pakistan reported its first Mpox-related fatality as a 40-year-old man, who was undergoing treatment for Mpox and HIV at the infectious diseases department of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Islamabad, succumbed to complications, officials disclosed.
Dr. Nasim Akhtar, the head of the infectious diseases department at PIMS Islamabad, revealed that the patient, afflicted with Mpox (formerly Monkeypox) and concurrent HIV infection, passed away due to complications arising from both conditions on Sunday morning.
Seven individuals in Pakistan have tested positive for Mpox, all of whom originated from Middle East. Officials emphasized that no cases of local Mpox transmission have been identified in the country. The World Health Organization (WHO) responded to requests from infectious diseases experts at PIMS by supplying ‘tecovirimat,’ an experimental antiviral for Mpox treatment.
Dr. Nasim Akhtar highlighted the challenges faced during the patient’s treatment, initially administering antiretroviral drugs for HIV. However, lacking specific antiviral medications for Mpox, the patient’s condition deteriorated over time.
Pakistan’s first Mpox case was identified in April, involving two individuals from Middle East. Of the seven tested for Mpox, six have successfully recovered without complications. The WHO provided 25 treatment courses of the experimental antiviral drug ‘tecovirimat’ to Pakistan under stringent conditions for ‘compassionate use,’ targeting smallpox, cowpox, Monkeypox, and vaccinia complications.
An official from the National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination (NHS, R&C) confirmed the WHO’s provision of tecovirimat in response to their request for advanced antiviral treatment.
According to the WHO, based on animal studies, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (“MHRA”) have found that Tecovirimat SIGA (“tecovirimat”) is expected to be effective at reducing mortality caused by Monkeypox, and have authorized its use for the treatment of monkeypox, cowpox, smallpox and vaccinia complications in the European Union and the United Kingdom under “exceptional circumstances.”
