ISLAMABAD: The Technical Working Group (TWG) on Mpox and the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) have expressed serious concerns over the insufficient performance of Border Health Services (BHS) in detecting Mpox cases at the country’s key airports
Both bodies have questioned as to why all the four confirmed cases of Mpox have only been detected at the Peshawar International Airport.
Despite the bulk of incoming flights from two Mpox-affected Arab countries landing at Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad airports, where 80% of passengers typically arrive, no Mpox cases have been detected.
The TWG emphasized that this inconsistency pointed to the surveillance gaps needing to be addressed urgently.
Speaking to The News, a member of the TWG criticized the current approach and called for stronger surveillance measures at Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad airports to ensure that no potential Mpox cases slip through undetected.
This call to action followed concerns raised in a TWG meeting, chaired by Federal Director General of Health Shabana Saleem, which was formed after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Mpox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
The TWG includes officials from key public health bodies such as the National Institute of Health (NIH) Islamabad, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), and others.
During the meeting, the BHS officials were questioned over their failure to detect Mpox cases beyond Peshawar, even though local transmission of the virus has been ongoing in countries from which these passengers are arriving.
BHS was urged to enhance its trained workforce and tighten surveillance at major airports like Karachi, Islamabad, and Lahore.
The NCOC echoed these concerns in its meeting, pointing out that Peshawar’s provincial health department had deployed additional doctors and staff at the airport and Torkham border.
The NCOC recommended that the other three provincial governments follow suit by deploying local doctors and personnel at the entry points to assist the BHS.
The NCOC further highlighted the need for urgent reinforcements at the Taftan border, as a large influx of pilgrims from Iran is expected next week. Currently, the BHS in Balochistan only has one doctor at this border point, and the provincial government has been directed to provide support.
So far, four Mpox cases have been detected in Pakistan, all involving passengers arriving from two Arab nations with active local transmission. Although neighboring countries such as India and Bangladesh have also reported Mpox cases, no new cases have been detected in India since March 2024.
The TWG also discussed procuring the Mpox vaccine to protect frontline workers, particularly at airports. However, experts voiced reservations, noting that the vaccine had not yet received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from any major international health authority.
Additionally, the antiviral drug “Tecovirimat,” which is being tested as a potential treatment for Mpox, remains in the experimental phase, with its safety and efficacy yet to be fully established.
Health authorities estimate that Pakistan would need at least 1,000 doses of the Mpox vaccine to cover frontline healthcare workers in intensive care units (ICUs) who may come into contact with confirmed Mpox cases.
The TWG was also informed that the Ministry of Health is awaiting guidance from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before issuing a public advisory on Mpox for travelers from affected countries. Once recommendations are received, the advisory is expected to be made public. In light of an increase in cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the WHO re-declared Mpox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern as of August 2024. Although no cases of this new viral clade have been detected in Pakistan, health experts continue to urge vigilance, especially in countries with low surveillance capabilities like Pakistan.