Mpox precaution

Pakistan has reported its second case of mpox this year, with a 29-year-old man from Karachi testing positive for the viral infection. This marks the first case in Sindh and follows an earlier case in January when a traveler arriving in Peshawar from a Gulf country tested positive. While authorities insist that there is no local transmission, the country cannot afford to ignore the warning signs. The lessons of Covid-19 are still lingering - waiting until an outbreak spirals out of control is not an option.

The Covid-19 pandemic exposed critical weaknesses in Pakistan's healthcare system, from delayed responses to insufficient testing and hospital capacity. The initial lack of screening at airports and ineffective quarantine measures allowed the virus to spread unchecked. Mpox may not have the same level of transmissibility, but it is still a contagious disease that requires swift action. Unlike Covid-19, Pakistan has the advantage of knowing the pattern of mpox transmission - it has so far remained an imported infection. This provides an opportunity to contain the virus before it spreads within communities. Pakistan's response to mpox must be proactive rather than reactive. Strengthening airport screenings and enforcing mandatory testing for high-risk travelers. Moreover, it must be ensured beforehand that hospitals be equipped with isolation facilities should the virus spiral out of control. Public awareness is equally crucial as Covid-19 misinformation led to vaccine hesitancy and delayed medical intervention. Similar myths about mpox must be countered before they take root.

The world has already witnessed the cost of underestimating an infectious disease. Pakistan has a chance to act before mpox becomes a crisis. A contingency plan must be devised from the get go.