Monkeypox outbreak spreads in Sindh

Sindh is facing a growing health threat as monkeypox cases surge, with 14 infections reported so far this year - including 12 in Khairpur and two in Karachi - and five fatalities. The outbreak has alarmed health authorities, prompting immediate emergency measures across the province.

The second monkeypox case in Karachi was confirmed recently in a 22-year-old resident of the Buffer Zone area, who was admitted to the Infectious Diseases Hospital, Nipa. Hospital officials confirmed the patient has no travel history. He has been isolated and is under close medical observation. Earlier this year, Karachi had recorded another case involving a 31-year-old who had returned from abroad.

The provincial Health Minister Azra Pechuho announced that emergency measures are in place to contain the virus. Isolation units have been established in major government hospitals, and doctors and nurses have been provided with protective equipment, including gowns, gloves, and masks.

Monkeypox primarily spreads through direct skin-to-skin contact, as well as through contact with infected lesions or bodily fluids. The minister urged the public to avoid touching suspected patients or their personal items, and to wash clothes and bedding in hot water. Suspected patients are tested at Dow University of Health Sciences and Aga Khan Hospital laboratories, with results available within 24 hours. Confirmed cases are kept in isolation to prevent further spread.

While monkeypox is generally not fatal, weakened immunity can lead to complications, particularly among newborns, who have accounted for several of the reported deaths. Early symptoms include fever, cold, sore throat, and rash, which may progress into pus-filled lesions.

Health experts warn that the virus is highly contagious through skin-to-skin contact and can affect all age groups. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely and stress that precautionary measures are critical to prevent further spread.