Second Mpox Case Reported in Peshawar This Month

Peshawar has reported a second case of the mpox virus this month, according to health authorities. The latest case involves a five-month-old girl who tested positive for the virus at the Peshawar airport.

The child, who had traveled with her parents from Qatar, was detected during routine screening at the airport. Health officials immediately began testing the parents for the virus as a precautionary measure.

The first case of the month was identified in a 35-year-old man last week during airport screening. The patient was promptly moved to an isolation ward at Police Services Hospital for further care.

Pakistan has been vigilant about monitoring and controlling the spread of mpox. The country reported at least eight cases in 2024, and health authorities have enforced stringent screening protocols at airports and border entry points to prevent the virus from spreading further.

In August 2024, the World Health Organization declared a global health emergency over a mutated strain of mpox, clade I, which originated in the Democratic Republic of Congo and spread to multiple countries, prompting a worldwide response to contain the outbreak.