The Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) announced on Monday that the mpox virus, formerly known as monkeypox, is under control in Pakistan. This statement comes after the country reported only two cases of the virus since it was declared a global emergency earlier this month. The government has assured the public that comprehensive measures are in place to prevent any further spread of the disease.
Sajid Shah, the NHS ministry spokesperson, highlighted that the federal government is taking the situation very seriously. He mentioned that screening of suspected mpox patients is being conducted across the country, and individuals showing symptoms are being isolated in hospital wards to prevent local transmission. “We are closely monitoring the situation, and Health Secretary Nadeem Mehbub is personally overseeing the efforts,” Shah stated.
Health Secretary Nadeem Mehbub has been actively involved in monitoring the situation, particularly at key entry points into the country. He has personally visited several airports, including Islamabad International Airport, Peshawar Airport, and Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport, to assess the arrangements for screening potential mpox patients. During his visit to Lahore, the secretary reviewed the screening measures in place and was briefed by the Border Health Services staff on their efforts.
“The Border Health staff at airports is ensuring the effectiveness of the surveillance and screening systems,” Mehbub stated, emphasizing the importance of adhering to the guidelines provided by the World Health Organization (WHO). He further noted that the ministry is monitoring the situation on a daily basis, describing Pakistan’s disease surveillance system as “very effective and robust.”
In a related development, the WHO launched a global Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan on Monday aimed at stopping human-to-human transmission of the mpox virus. The plan, which was developed in response to the WHO’s declaration of a public health emergency of international concern on August 14, focuses on coordinated efforts at global, regional, and national levels.
The WHO’s new strategy covers the six-month period from September 2024 to February 2025, with an estimated funding requirement of $135 million. This funding will support the response efforts of WHO, member states, and partners, including the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), communities, and researchers. A funding appeal is expected to be launched soon to meet these needs.
One of the key components of the WHO’s plan is ‘strategic vaccination,’ which will target individuals at the highest risk of contracting the virus, such as close contacts of recent cases and healthcare workers. This approach aims to interrupt transmission chains and ultimately control the outbreaks.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director-General, expressed optimism about controlling the mpox outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring countries. He emphasized that stopping the transmission of the virus requires a “comprehensive and coordinated plan of action” involving international agencies, national and local partners, civil society, researchers, manufacturers, and WHO member states.
With these measures in place, both at the national and international levels, there is hope that the mpox virus can be effectively controlled and eventually eliminated.
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