Two cases of monkeypox were reported for the first time in Pakistan.
According to the sources of the Ministry of Health, the monkeypox patients belong to Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
According to additional information received from the sources, both patients had arrived in Pakistan from Saudi Arabia on the same flight on April 17 and were showing symptoms of infectious disease.
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According to sources, MPOX victims were shifted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Hospital, and the National Institute of Health (NIH) collected blood samples from them.
A health ministry spokesperson confirmed the detection of monkeypox as per the test reports of the two patients released by the NIH.
One patient is now being treated in the hospital and is in stable condition, while the other patient is being isolated at home, a Pims spokesman said.
Airport-specific rules:
After the monkey pox cases came to light, the health department issued special instructions to airports across the country.
According to the regulations, the airport administration will conduct a health check on every passenger arriving from abroad and the airport staff must wear masks. Additionally, porters are required to wear masks and gloves.
Additionally, no protocol will be provided to passengers at the country’s airports. Every passenger will undergo a thorough medical examination. Suspicious passengers will be isolated and taken to hospital immediately.
The Border and Health Services Organization is closely monitoring the situation, and all airports are enforcing health requirements, according to a health ministry spokesperson.
Hospitals in Sindh province are on high alert.
Following the monkeypox cases, hospitals across Sindh were put on high alert and authorities issued instructions to set up isolation areas for suspected patients.
Director General Health Services Sindh has instructed all government hospitals to build 5 to 10-bed isolation facilities for monkeypox patients.