Another passenger arriving in Pakistan from a Gulf country has tested positive for monkeypox, marking the second case reported in the country this year.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Health confirmed that symptoms of monkeypox were detected in a passenger arriving at Peshawar airport from a Gulf nation. The passenger was immediately transferred to a hospital by the airport’s health desk, where the test results confirmed the monkeypox infection.
Dr. Irshad Roghani, Director of Public Health for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, identified the patient as a 47-year-old individual from Nowshera who had traveled from Dubai to Peshawar. The medical team at the airport flagged the passenger as a suspect, leading to the patient’s transfer to the police hospital. The diagnosis was later confirmed by the Khyber Medical University lab.
Prime Minister’s Health Coordinator, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Bhirth, assured that the Ministry of Health is closely monitoring the situation. He emphasized that border health staff at all airports are working diligently to identify and manage any potential cases.
Earlier, a citizen from Mardan, who had arrived in Peshawar from Saudi Arabia, also tested positive for monkeypox, raising concerns about the spread of the virus.
In response to the outbreak, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared an emergency, prompting health authorities in Pakistan to establish health desks at airports across the country in line with WHO guidelines.
