Suspected mpox outbreak kills seven children

16 infections reported, mostly among newborns; officials scramble for lab confirmation, containment

HYDERABAD:

A suspected outbreak of mpox has raised alarm in Khairpur Mirs district after at least seven children died among 16 reported cases, triggering urgent response from health authorities.

Sukkur Division Commissioner Abid Saleem Qureshi, in a letter to the Sindh health secretary, confirmed the deaths and warned of a "serious outbreak of a disease resembling chickenpox," stressing the need for immediate and coordinated action. Most of the affected children, he added, are neonates.

Reflecting the gravity of the situation, the Sindh Health Department has sought assistance from Aga Khan University Laboratory for urgent testing of samples collected from at least eight children. Officials stressed that early laboratory confirmation is critical for effective case management and to prevent further transmission.

Health officials said preliminary findings suggest weak infection prevention and control practices at both public and private healthcare facilities may have contributed to the spread. The commissioner added that mothers of many affected children had also shown similar symptoms, raising further concern.

As part of immediate measures, health facilities visited by the patients have been disinfected, while one private clinic has been sealed over safety violations. A rapid response team has also been formed to contain the outbreak.

The commissioner urged the provincial government to take charge by establishing PCR testing facilities, screening healthcare providers involved in maternal and child care, and initiating action against non-compliant institutions. He also stressed the need to enforce strict infection control protocols in maternity and neonatal wards.

According to officials, nearly 99 per cent of the cases have been reported from Thari Mirwah, while one case emerged from Kot Diji. However, officials cautioned that the exact nature of the disease cannot be confirmed until laboratory reports are received.

"Until we receive lab confirmation, it cannot be determined what type of pox it is," the commissioner told media, adding that the deceased children had developed severe pneumonia along with fluid-filled blisters across their bodies - symptoms that local experts believe are consistent with mpox.

Meanwhile, grieving families have raised concerns over alleged misdiagnosis and lack of proper treatment at local clinics. One parent said his daughter survived only nine days after developing symptoms, claiming doctors failed to identify the disease and did not adequately inform the family about her condition.

Health experts have called for immediate epidemiological investigations to trace the origin and spread of the infection as fears of a wider outbreak continue to grow.