(30-04-23) KARACHI, PAKISTAN – Health authorities have quarantined two Somali travellers, along with two Pakistani deportees, on suspicion of monkeypox (mpox) infection upon their arrival at Jinnah International Airport, Karachi. The Somali passengers and Pakistani deportees arrived in Karachi from Dubai on separate flights.
The four suspected individuals have been placed in isolation at a government health facility in Bhittaiabad. Their samples have been sent to the Ojha Institute of Chest Diseases, part of Dow University of Health Sciences, for analysis. Test results are expected within one to two days.
A health department official stated that the chances of these passengers not having monkeypox are high, as they do not exhibit the classic signs and symptoms of the disease. However, the presence of blisters and pimples detected during the physical examination raised concerns among the staff. Passengers from high-risk countries, including Somalia, have been screened and tested for mpox over the past two days.
Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by the monkeypox virus, with symptoms similar to, but milder than, smallpox. The disease spreads through close contact with infected animals or people, entering the body via broken skin, the respiratory tract, or the eyes, nose, or mouth. It can also be transmitted through shared items such as bedding or towels. Early signs of monkeypox include flu-like symptoms, lymphadenopathy, and chickenpox-like rashes on the hands and face.
The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has urged the government to implement measures to prevent a potential monkeypox outbreak and to immediately declare cases upon detection. The PMA has also called for improved facilities at airports, seaports, and border entries to better scan and monitor passengers, particularly those from high-risk countries. The association recommends rapid antigen tests for monkeypox at all entry points, specifically for passengers arriving from affected countries.
