Over 10k screened since mpox case

This is in addition to 5,000 travellers crossing into Pak through Torkham

PESHAWAR:

After a confirmed case of mpox sent alarm bells ringing in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, more than 10,000 passengers arriving on 83 flights have been screened as of Monday.

Additionally, screening has been conducted on over 5,000 passengers crossing over into Pakistan from the Torkham border. Rapid response teams have been established across districts in the province, while an emergency meeting of the L-P Health Department’s Provincial Outbreak Committee was convened on Sunday and chaired by Health Minister Syed Qasim Ali Shah.

The meeting was attended by Health DG Dr Muhammad Saleem, Additional Director General Dr. Siraj, Bacha Khan International Airport Health Services Head Dr. Ferozuddin, HSRU Chief Dr Iftikhar Khalil, Public Health Director Dr Irshad Roghani, EPI Director Dr Arif, Police Services Hospital MS Dr Niaz, WHO representative Dr Babar, and other relevant officials.

At the start of the meeting, Director Public Health Dr Irshad Roghani briefed the committee on the current situation of Monkeypox, its management, and case response. He informed the meeting that the World Health Organisation declared mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on August 14.

This disease spreads from animals to humans. The first case of mpox was reported in 1970 from the Republic of Congo. Before 2022, outbreaks occurred in Central and Western Africa. In Asia, including China and Vietnam, 3,527 cases have been reported so far. It spreads through coughing, sneezing, contact with fluid from skin lesions, or unprotected sexual contact with an infected person.

The health minister appealed to the public to maintain social distancing and exercise caution in interactions. He urged the media to support the health department in raising awareness about monkeypox so the public can be informed. Rapid response teams have been formed, and isolation wards are being established in districts.

The current patient had an accident in Saudi Arabia on August 3 and patient arrived in Pakistan on August 10. He subsequently visited the Khyber Teaching Hospital OPD for treatment of a broken foot. Upon observing the patient's skin condition and symptoms, the hospital isolated the patient and sent samples to the Public Health Reference Laboratory.

The details of the current case revealed through genetic sequencing that it is a Clade 2B case, linked to Western Africa. All three cases reported so far have travel history to Saudi Arabia. A Provincial Control Room has been established at the Directorate General of Health Services and more such facilities are being set up under the District Outbreak Committees.

The health minister was informed that an advisory and guidelines related to case management are being issued regularly to all medical staff in the province. Screening areas and staffing have been designated at Bacha Khan International Airport and the Torkham border. Isolation wards are being set up at DHQs, and private hospitals have been notified through the Health Care Commission.

The health minister was also informed that an isolation ward has been set up at MTI Mardan in response to the current case. Screening of passengers continues at Bacha Khan International Airport after disembarking. Passengers' temperatures and symptoms of mpox are checked upon arrival. The meeting also discussed symptoms for diagnosing suspected cases for district formations and medical officers.