The Sindh health department reported on Sunday that three individuals suspected of having mpox in Karachi were sent home after one showed no symptoms of the disease and tests for the other two returned negative.
The individuals were flagged for possible mpox infection upon their return to Pakistan from Middle Eastern countries, arriving at Jinnah International Airport. According to sources cited by PressTonight, the individual who displayed no symptoms was immediately allowed to return home. The other two, who had arrived from Jeddah on Saturday, were also discharged after testing negative for the virus.
All three individuals were initially taken to the Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital and Research Centre for evaluation and testing.
At present, Pakistan has confirmed six cases of mpox, with the majority of them reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Mpox is a viral infection that causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. While generally mild, it can pose severe risks, especially for children, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems. The disease has caused significant concern in African nations, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, where over 27,000 cases and 1,100 deaths—primarily among children—have been reported.
The recent mpox outbreak, which began in the Congo in January 2023, was declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization (WHO) in August, following the identification of a new variant.
