Mpox screening: Separate counter set up at Islamabad airport

Move comes in wake of govt’s instructions to prevent disease outbreak

ISLAMABAD:

The Immigration Wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has adopted special measures at the New Islamabad International Airport to prevent the outbreak of the viral monkeypox disease.

According to sources, a separate counter has been set up for the clearance of deportees arriving from Saudi Arabia.

The Middle Eastern nation deported 20 illegally residing Pakistani citizens last month and on their arrival, some of the deportees showed symptoms of fever, body aches etc.

The deportees were shifted to a hospital for further medical examination due to the fears of the spread of monkeypox following which the symptoms of the viral disease were confirmed in at least two passengers who were then treated as per the SOPs and discharged from the hospital after complete recovery.

Sources said on the government’s instructions, special measures have been taken for monkeypox screening at the airports.

In this regard, FIA Immigration has also set up a separate counter at the Islamabad airport for deportees arriving from Saudi Arabia.

Officials said that only deportees arriving from Saudi Arabia will be processed at the immigration counter number-5. Face masks, gloves, sanitisers and protective uniforms have been provided to the immigration staff and instructions for strict implementation of SOPs have also been issued to them.

The officials also said that a separate immigration stamp has been allocated for the immigration of deportees from Saudi Arabia.

Special training is also being conducted for the FIA immigration staff regarding the prevention of the monkeypox outbreak.

On May 4, a 36-year-old expatriate working as a driver in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, tested positive for the monkeypox virus following his arrival in Pakistan.

Meer Muhammad was isolated after his symptoms were identified at the Karachi airport.

His skin lesions test returned positive for the virus from the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) and his contact tracing is currently underway. According to the patient, he did not come in contact with his family since his arrival in Karachi and did not have physical contact with anyone on the airplane.