Pakistan to approach WHO for vaccine amid fears of mpox spread
Pakistan has reported two cases of the infectious disease
ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) – Pakistan has decided to obtain anti-monekypox vaccine from the World Health Organisation as the South Asian country reported first two cases of infectious diseases.
Mpox (monkeypox) is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus. It can cause a painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes and fever. Most people fully recover, but some get very sick. Mpox can be transmitted to humans through physical contact with someone who is infectious, with contaminated materials, or with infected animals.
The National Institute of Health (NIH) officials said that technical assistance had been sought from the WHO amid threats of spread of the infections in the country. They said that vaccine would also be obtained to inoculate people against the infection.
They said protective gear would also be received from the World Health Organization for the frontline healthcare workers who will also be vaccinated.
A day earlier, officials of the Federal Ministry of Health said a person, who had returned from Saudi Arabia on April 17, had symptoms of monkeypox. The officials of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences sent the samples of the affected person to the National Institute of Health in Islamabad, which confirmed the first case of the virus. The affected person is a resident of Rawalpindi.
Information about the second case is not clear, though officials claim there are two cases.
According to an official of the health ministry, the health authorities have started taking measures to prevent the spread of the disease. He said the person’s relatives were being screened and asked to remain in quarantine to ensure the virus does not spread.
He said airports across the country had been put on high alert after the detection of the virus besides taking other preventive measures.
