Mpox starts spreading locally as Karachi reports first case with no travel history

Sindh has reported its first case of monkeypox (Mpox) and Pakistan’s second locally transmitted infection after Peshawar, as a 29-year-old patient from Malir tested positive despite having no recent travel history, raising concerns about the virus’s spread within the country.

The patient is currently in isolation at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), health authorities confirmed on Friday.

Officials in the Sindh health department revealed that while the patient himself did not travel abroad, his wife, who worked as a beautician in a Gulf country, had recently returned from Saudi Arabia.

“When the patient developed symptoms, he sought medical attention, and healthcare providers suspected Mpox. His samples were sent to the Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS), which confirmed the infection,” said a senior health official.

In response, the Sindh health authorities have begun tracing the wife and children of the patient to test their samples and isolate them if necessary. “Our immediate priority is to identify any close contacts who may have contracted the virus and prevent further transmission,” the official added.

The detection of a locally transmitted case in Sindh comes shortly after another case was reported in Peshawar, where a young man, who identified himself as a homosexual, tested positive despite having no travel history. These cases indicate that Mpox is now being transmitted locally in Pakistan, prompting urgent containment measures from health authorities.

With this latest case in Karachi, the total number of Mpox cases in Pakistan this year has risen to 13, officials of the federal health ministry confirmed.

The emergence of local transmission cases has heightened concerns among Pakistani health authorities, who were initially focused on detecting cases among travellers returning from Gulf countries. The majority of confirmed cases have involved individuals with recent travel history, particularly from Saudi Arabia and the UAE. However, local transmission suggests the virus may already be circulating within communities in Pakistan.

Health experts have warned that without stringent screening and contact-tracing measures, Mpox could spread further. The federal and provincial health departments are working to strengthen surveillance and public awareness to mitigate risks.

Officials have urged the public to report any symptoms of Mpox, such as fever, skin rashes, and swollen lymph nodes, to prevent wider outbreaks.

Meanwhile, the Border Health Services (BHS) under the federal health ministry is making efforts to screen travellers at Pakistan’s entry points, with 79 per cent of cases detected and isolated at airports. However, given the rising local transmission cases, experts are calling for increased testing capacity and public awareness campaigns.

Pakistan, India and Thailand have raised concerns with the World Health Organisation’s Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (WHO-EMRO) regarding the growing number of Mpox cases linked to Gulf nations. Officials from these countries argue that inadequate screening and preventive measures in Saudi Arabia and the UAE have contributed to the virus’s unchecked spread.