Mpox caseload in Sindh soars past 100

Woman shifted to ICU at Nipa hospital; govt reviews surveillance measures

KARACHI:

Sindh has reported another case of mpox, prompting the Health Department to convene a meeting to review surveillance, early diagnosis and measures to contain the spread of the virus.

A woman who tested positive for mpox has been shifted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital at Nipa. According to hospital officials, she was brought to the facility two days ago, where samples were collected for a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. The infection was confirmed after the test results became available.

Hospital officials said seven mpox patients were currently receiving treatment at the facility.

According to figures available with the Health Department, Sindh has reported 98 mpox cases and 12 deaths so far this year. However, sources said the latest case had taken the cumulative number of infections reported during the year beyond 100.

Against this backdrop, a meeting of Health Department officials was convened under the chairmanship of the director general Health Services Sindh to review the situation and assess measures to prevent further transmission.

Attendees at the meeting included the director Health Services Karachi Division, a professor of pathology at Dow University and director of the Provincial Public Health Laboratory Sindh, Professor Dr Saeed Khan. The chief executive officer of the Sindh Healthcare Commission was also invited, while Additional Director of the Provincial Disease Surveillance and Response Unit (PDSRU) Sindh, Dr Asif Syed.

Participants reviewed arrangements for monitoring cases, identifying suspected patients at an early stage and ensuring timely reporting of infections.

Discussions also focused on laboratory testing of suspected cases, identifying people who had come into contact with infected individuals and ensuring their continued monitoring.

Officials further examined measures to strengthen infection prevention and control at public and private hospitals and healthcare centres, improve early diagnosis and ensure that confirmed and suspected cases were promptly reported to the relevant authorities.

The meeting also considered ways to strengthen coordination among the health department, hospitals, laboratories and other relevant institutions to accelerate testing, improve case detection and limit the potential spread of the virus.