Pakistan’s National Institute of Health (NIH) has issued an urgent advisory about the mpox virus following a global outbreak of a new strain. The advisory offers detailed information on how to prevent and identify the infection.
It is pertinent to mention that the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global health emergency last week due to a new mutated strain of mpox, known as clade I. Clade I has raised global concerns due to its apparent ease of transmission through regular close contact. The new strain is associated with an escalating outbreak in Africa.
According to Radio Pakistan, “The National Institutes of Health (NIH), operating under the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, has issued an urgent advisory concerning an unprecedented outbreak of Mpox, affecting multiple countries.”
The advisory provides an overview of the current Mpox outbreak both globally and nationally and offers guidance on prevention, detection, and response strategies for relevant stakeholders.
The advisory called on health authorities, care providers, and public health organizations to boost surveillance, improve diagnostic capabilities, and enforce strong preventive measures to control the spread of mpox.
“The public is advised to stay informed, practice good hygiene, and seek medical attention if symptoms develop,” it added.
According to the advisory, Pakistan has recorded 11 confirmed cases and one death from mpox since its detection in April 2023. The disease typically presents with flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. While mpox is usually mild, it can be fatal, particularly for children, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems, who are at higher risk of complications.
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