Pakistan Reports First Monkeypox Case of 2024 in KP Citizen Returning from Saudi Arabia

Pakistan Reports First Monkeypox Case of 2024 in KP Citizen Returning from Saudi Arabia

Just a day after an alert was issued to prevent the spread of diseases via international travelers, Pakistan confirmed its first case of monkeypox (Mpox) for this year. The case was diagnosed in a citizen from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) who recently returned from Saudi Arabia.

Federal health ministry officials identified the patient as a young man from Dir, currently residing in Mardan. The man tested positive for Mpox after returning to Pakistan on August 3.

In response, the health ministry collected additional samples from individuals who had contact with the infected man. The ministry also instructed the Border Health Services to implement strict monitoring at all entry points to curb the disease’s spread.

An important session was convened at the Health Ministry, chaired by the Director General of Health, where advisory guidelines regarding Mpox were issued. Provinces have been directed to appoint focal persons to monitor and report on developments related to the detection and management of the disease.