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Monkeypox - Should we be alarmed?

For the first time, monkeypox has been reported in a minor in New York state

(CNN)A minor in New York state has reportedly contracted monkeypox -- a first among children in the state and at least the third reported case of the disease among children in the US.

The child lives in New York but not in New York City, according to state health department data released last week. The data does not list the child's gender, city of residence nor how the minor became infected.

New York Department of Health spokesperson Monica Pomeroy said she was not able to disclose the minor's age.
"In instances where the number of cases is small, patient confidentiality prohibits the Department from disclosing this information," Pomeroy said.

Previously, at least two other children in the US have had cases of monkeypox, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

One case involved a California toddler, and the other involved an infant who is not a US resident.

The two cases are unrelated and probably the result of household transmission, the CDC said. Public health officials are investigating how the children got infected.

Since the monkeypox outbreak began in May, most cases have occurred among men who have sex with men. But anyone can catch the virus through close skin-to-skin contact.

In the case of children, the CDC said, this could include "holding, cuddling, feeding, as well as through shared items such as towels, bedding, cups, and utensils."

The CDC said the Jynneos vaccine is being made available for children through special expanded use protocols.

The agency has also developed new guidance for health care providers about identifying, treating and preventing monkeypox in children and teens.

CNN
 
Egypt latest in Mideast to detect 1st case of monkeypox

CAIRO - Egypt's health authorities have detected the country's first case of monkeypox in a 42-year-old man who frequently travels to Europe. Authorities said the man is stable and has been isolated at a special hospital.
Egypt is the latest in the Middle East to join countries with reported monkeypox cases; Israel and the United Arab Emirates identified their first cases of the viral disease in May and Lebanon did so in June.

The health ministry statement, which was released late on Wednesday, also said that the contacts of the patient, who holds EU residency, are being monitored according to international medical standards recommended by the World Health Organization.

The statement did not say where exactly the case was detected or elaborate further.

Last month, Iran also announced that a 34-year-old woman in the southwestern city of AhvazMay tested positive for the virus, becoming that country's first case.

According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 56,000 cases have been detected in 102 countries around the globe so far.

Since monkeypox outbreaks in Europe and North America were identified in May, the World Health Organization and other health agencies have noted that its spread was mostly in men who have sex with men.

The virus originates in primates and other wild animals and causes fever, body aches, chills and fatigue in most patients. People with more serious illness can develop a rash and lesions on the face, hands and other parts of the body.

The smallpox-related disease is commonly found in parts of central and west Africa. Most people recover within about two to four weeks without needing to be hospitalized, monkeypox can be fatal for up to 6% of cases and is thought to be more severe in children.

CTV News
 
23 Monkeypox Cases Reported In India Till Dec 8 This Year, Parliament Told

A total of 23 confirmed cases of Monkeypox have been reported in the country till December 8 this year, Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar told the Rajya Sabha today.

In response to a question on the present status of COVID-19 cases in the country, Ms Pawar said the trajectory of the cases is witnessing a slow and sustained decline since mid-July 2022.

As on December 8, 2022, according to the information shared by the states and UTs, a total of 4,244 active cases of COVID-19 are reported in the country.

And a total of 23 confirmed cases of Monkeypox have been reported in the country till December 8 this year, Ms Pawar told the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.

On being asked if the government has conducted a thorough study on the impacts of the spread of drastic diseases through new forms of viruses and the precautionary measures taken to check their spread, Pawar in her written reply said that the Department of Health Research has a network of 145 virus research and diagnostic laboratories (VRDL) across various geographical locations of India.

These network laboratories are trained for the screening of viral diseases. They have also contributed to the study of various aspects of COVID-19 to understand clinical, immunological and genomic analysis, vaccine effectiveness, and reinfection studies, she said.

These studies have generated valuable information in the Indian context and have helped in making various policy decisions. Besides this, many other viruses of public health importance such as Nipah, Dengue, Zika, Chikungunya, Japanese encephalitis, Polio, Influenza and other respiratory viruses have also been studied in VRDLs and ICMR institutes.

The ICMR-National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune is equipped with a biosafety level-IV facility.

It is a WHO referral centre for emerging viral infections and is involved in conducting workshops for diagnostic preparedness and awareness for health care sector as well as VRDLs for emerging and re-emerging viral diseases which sensitise people to take precautionary measures to avoid the spread of communicable diseases, Pawar said in her written reply.

The National Influenza centre at ICMR-NIV also monitors the evolution of Influenza and SARS-CoV-2 viruses through pan-India surveillance programmes with the help of 30 VRDLs, located across different geographical locations in India. Also, the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) division of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) gathers data on various communicable diseases, including drastic diseases spread through new forms of viruses.

The IDSP surveillance network has detected outbreaks caused by viruses like CCHF (2011), Nipah (2018), Zika (2016), COVID-19 (2020) and monkeypox (2022).

NDTV
 
Two cases of monkeypox have been detected in Islamabad, originating from Saudi Arabia, according to officials who confirmed the development on Tuesday.

The identity of the victims has been kept confidential, and samples were sent to the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Islamabad, which confirmed the presence of the virus.

Following the detection of the virus, hospitals in Sindh have been advised to take proactive steps for the management of suspected or confirmed cases.

An advisory issued by Directorate General Health Services Sindh stated that the hospital administration is required to establish a designated separate area with five to 10 rooms for isolation of monkeypox cases within 24 hours.

The area should include appropriate infection control measures, such as negative pressure, hand hygiene facilities, and personal protective equipment to provide safe and effective care for patients.

It also said that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported cases of monkeypox in 110 member states across all six WHO regions since January 2022.

"As of April 25, 2023, there have been 87,113 laboratory-confirmed cases and 130 deaths reported to WHO."

Express Tribune
 
MONKEYPOX: HEALTH EMERGENCY DECLARED AT AIRPORTS

A health emergency has been declared at Karachi and other operational airports of the country with regard to the Monkeypox virus disease, ARY News reported on Sunday.

The Airport Security Force (ASF) has issued standard operating procedure (SOPs) for protection from the infection.

All ASF staff will wear face masks under the SOPs. It will be mandatory for the staff under the SOPs to wear hand gloves during search of passengers and their baggage.

The ASF has also suspended issuance of temporary passes for entry in the airport.

A seven-year-old boy, who is a resident of Karachi’s Lyari was brought to National Institute of Child Health (NICH) with the monkeypox-like symptoms.

The child has been admitted to the monkeypox isolation ward in the hospital. The sources within the NICH said that there is no travel history of the suspected patient and said the symptoms are like those of mpox but the confirmation will come after the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) report.

ARY
 
Monkeypox is no longer a global public health emergency, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said, almost a year after the threat was raised.

The virus is still around and further waves and outbreaks could continue, but the highest level of alert is over, the WHO added.

The global health body's chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called on countries to "remain vigilant"

It can be passed on by close contact with someone who is infected.
 
Global Health officials were spooked last year when monkey pox, a disease formerly known as monkeypox, began spreading beyond the parts of Africa where it is endemic. Its reach rapidly extended across Europe and America, mainly through sexual contact. Monkey pox can cause flu-like symptoms, painful blisters and, in very rare cases, death. This year cases have fallen rapidly in much of the world, thanks to vaccines and health education. But not in China.

In July and August the country said it had found nearly 1,000 new cases, more than half of the new infections reported worldwide in those months. This marked a sharp rise from zero infections early in the year. The mpox virus has spread across China, with 26 of the mainland’s 31 provincial regions reporting infections. Some 80% of cases lack a clear chain of infection, health officials say, implying that many others are not being recorded.

Source: The Economist
 

South Africa records first death from mpox​


South Africa has recorded its first confirmed death from Mpox, the country's health minister has announced.

A 37-year-old man died as a result of the virus on Monday after being admitted to a hospital in Gauteng province three days earlier, said minister Joe Phaahla.

Mr Phaala said that all five cases recorded in the country this year - another in Gauteng, and three in KwaZulu-Natal - were classed as severe and required hospitalisation.

He said all were men aged between 30 and 39, who had not been to other countries experiencing an outbreak - suggesting that the disease was being transmitted locally.

Mpox, formerly called monkeypox, is a viral infection transmitted through close contact.

Initial symptoms include fever, headaches, swellings, back pain, aching muscles, which can develop into a rash.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a public health emergency over an outbreak of mpox in 2022. Although this was ended last year, low levels of cases are still being reported in some countries.

"One death is too many, especially from a preventable and manageable disease," Mr Phaahla said, urging those with suspected symptoms to seek medical attention and help trace contacts.

Mr Phaahla said the five diagnosed patients had pre-existing immuno-deficiencies, and had contracted the disease since the start of May.

Two of those infected have been allowed to go home, while two remain in hospital.

Anyone who came into contact with the single fatality will be monitored for 21 days.

The first human case was reported in Democratic Republic of Congo in 1970, and the disease remains endemic there, according to the WHO.

www.bbc.com

Mpox in South Africa: One person dies in Gauteng, says Health Minister Joe Pahaala

Four more cases are being monitored and traced by the health authorities.
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com
 
WHO declares mpox global health emergency

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the mpox outbreak in parts of Africa a public health emergency of international concern.

The highly contagious disease - formerly known as monkeypox - has killed at least 450 people during an initial outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

It has now spread across parts of central and east Africa, and scientists are concerned about how fast a new variant of the disease is spreading and its high fatality rate.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the potential for further spread within Africa and beyond "is very worrying".

"A co-ordinated international response is essential to stop this outbreak and save lives," he said.

Mpox is transmitted through close contact, such as sex, skin-to-skin contact and talking or breathing close to another person.

It causes flu-like symptoms, skin lesions and can be fatal, with four in 100 cases leading to death.

Outbreaks can be controlled by preventing infections with vaccines, though these are usually only available for people at risk or those who have been in close contact with an infected person.

There are two main types of mpox - Clade 1 and Clade 2.

A previous mpox public health emergency, declared in 2022, was caused by the relatively mild Clade 2. However, this time it is the far more deadly Clade 1 - which has killed up to 10% of those getting sick in previous outbreaks - that is surging.

There was a change in the virus around September last year. Mutations led to an offshoot - called Clade 1b - that has since spread rapidly. This new variant has been labelled “the most dangerous yet” by one scientist.

Since the start of the year, there have been more than 13,700 cases of mpox in the DR Congo, with at least 450 deaths.

It has since been detected in other African countries - including Burundi, the Central African Republic, Kenya and Rwanda.

It is hoped the declaration of mpox as a public health emergency will lead to research, funding, and the introduction of other international public health measures being accelerated.

Dr Josie Golding, from the Wellcome Trust, said it was a "strong signal", while Emory University's Dr Boghuma Titanji said the move "underscores the gravity of the crisis".

Prof Trudie Lang, the director of the Global Health Network at the University of Oxford, said it was "important and timely", but added that the emergence of a new strain meant there were "many unknowns that need to be addressed".

In July 2022 the milder Clade 2 strain of mpox spread to nearly 100 countries, including some in Europe and Asia.

It spread rapidly, and there were more than 87,000 cases and 140 deaths reported during that outbreak, according to a WHO count.

Although anyone can catch monkeypox, the outbreak was largely concentrated among men who had sex with men.

That outbreak was brought under control by vaccinating vulnerable groups.

On Tuesday, scientists from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention declared a public health emergency.

The head of the organisation, Jean Kaseya, warned that this current outbreak could spiral out of control if immediate steps were not taken to contain it.

"We must be proactive and aggressive in our efforts to contain and eliminate this threat," he said.

BBC
 
BouncerGuy said:
WHO declares mpox global health emergency

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the mpox outbreak in parts of Africa a public health emergency of international concern.

The highly contagious disease - formerly known as monkeypox - has killed at least 450 people during an initial outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

It has now spread across parts of central and east Africa, and scientists are concerned about how fast a new variant of the disease is spreading and its high fatality rate.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the potential for further spread within Africa and beyond "is very worrying".

"A co-ordinated international response is essential to stop this outbreak and save lives," he said.

Mpox is transmitted through close contact, such as sex, skin-to-skin contact and talking or breathing close to another person.

It causes flu-like symptoms, skin lesions and can be fatal, with four in 100 cases leading to death.

Outbreaks can be controlled by preventing infections with vaccines, though these are usually only available for people at risk or those who have been in close contact with an infected person.

There are two main types of mpox - Clade 1 and Clade 2.

A previous mpox public health emergency, declared in 2022, was caused by the relatively mild Clade 2. However, this time it is the far more deadly Clade 1 - which has killed up to 10% of those getting sick in previous outbreaks - that is surging.

There was a change in the virus around September last year. Mutations led to an offshoot - called Clade 1b - that has since spread rapidly. This new variant has been labelled “the most dangerous yet” by one scientist.

Since the start of the year, there have been more than 13,700 cases of mpox in the DR Congo, with at least 450 deaths.

It has since been detected in other African countries - including Burundi, the Central African Republic, Kenya and Rwanda.

It is hoped the declaration of mpox as a public health emergency will lead to research, funding, and the introduction of other international public health measures being accelerated.

Dr Josie Golding, from the Wellcome Trust, said it was a "strong signal", while Emory University's Dr Boghuma Titanji said the move "underscores the gravity of the crisis".

Prof Trudie Lang, the director of the Global Health Network at the University of Oxford, said it was "important and timely", but added that the emergence of a new strain meant there were "many unknowns that need to be addressed".

In July 2022 the milder Clade 2 strain of mpox spread to nearly 100 countries, including some in Europe and Asia.

It spread rapidly, and there were more than 87,000 cases and 140 deaths reported during that outbreak, according to a WHO count.

Although anyone can catch monkeypox, the outbreak was largely concentrated among men who had sex with men.

That outbreak was brought under control by vaccinating vulnerable groups.

On Tuesday, scientists from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention declared a public health emergency.

The head of the organisation, Jean Kaseya, warned that this current outbreak could spiral out of control if immediate steps were not taken to contain it.

"We must be proactive and aggressive in our efforts to contain and eliminate this threat," he said.

BBC
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This is concerning. This seems more lethal than COVID.

I hope it will be contained.
 
sweep_shot said:
This is concerning. This seems more lethal than COVID.

I hope it will be contained.
Click to expand...

It’s more common or maybe in certain social circles in the West .

They want to sell more vaccines but hopefully after Covid people are more thoughtful before taking any vaccine .
 

Pakistan reports first monkeypox case of 2024​


Pakistan on Thursday detected the first case of monkeypox of 2024 among a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) citizen who flew back home from Saudi Arabia — just a day after the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) issued an alert to stop the potential spread of diseases via foreign travellers.

Officials from the federal health ministry said that the young man belongs to Dir and is currently residing in Mardan. The infected man was detected with Mpox following his return from the kingdom on August 3, they added.

The health ministry's officials further said that they collected more samples of people who came in contact with the affected man. Subsequently, the ministry also ordered the Border Health Services to commence strict monitoring of all entry points.

Taking further measures to stop its spread, an important session was held at the Health Ministry under the chair of DG Health in which advisory and guidelines were issued regarding Mpox.

The provinces have been directed to appoint focal persons to monitor and report developments regarding the detection of the disease.

It is noteworthy to mention here that the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the recent spread of monkeypox a global emergency a day ago.

In the past year, Pakistan has confirmed nine cases of Mpox, all among travellers returning from the Middle East and other countries. Tragically, one patient, who was co-infected with HIV and Mpox, later died in Islamabad.

During the special session of the NCOC on Mpox, it was noted that around 15 African countries are currently reporting Mpox cases, with a total of 2,030 confirmed cases. Four countries — Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda — previously unaffected by Mpox, have reported cases since mid-July 2024.

According to NIH officials, the WHO reported that from January 1, 2022, through June 30, 2024, a cumulative total of 99,176 laboratory-confirmed cases of Mpox, including 208 deaths, were reported from 162 countries across all six WHO regions.

In June 2024 alone, 934 new cases were reported, with most cases coming from the African Region (61%), followed by the region of the Americas (19%) and the European region (11%).

The WHO has noted a decline in reporting, which means recent trends in Mpox cases should be interpreted with caution. WHO continues to encourage all countries to ensure that Mpox is a notifiable disease and to report cases, including when no cases have been detected (known as ‘zero-reporting’).

www.thenews.com.pk

Pakistan reports first monkeypox case of 2024

Pakistan on Thursday detected the first case of monkeypox of 2024 among a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa citizen who flew back home from Saudi Arabia — just a day after the National Command and Operation...
www.thenews.com.pk www.thenews.com.pk
 
Another Covid Pandemic.

Time to head to bunkers and maintain 6 feet distance from your Mom and Dad.
 
UK preparing after virus declared global emergency - as Sweden records first case

Sweden has confirmed it has recorded its first case of a contagious new variant of mpox - a day after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared it a global health emergency.

The strain, known as clade 1b, emerged in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with more than 17,000 cases and 571 deaths in Africa this year, officials have said, which exceeds last year's total.

Scientists from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention report 96% of all cases and deaths have been in DR Congo.

There are currently no cases of the virus in the UK, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said, and its deputy director Dr Meera Chand claims the risk "is currently considered low".

"However, planning is under way to prepare for any cases that we might see in the UK," she added.

"This includes ensuring that clinicians are aware and able to recognise cases promptly, that rapid testing is available, and that protocols are developed for the safe clinical care of people who have the infection and the prevention of onward transmission."


news.sky.com

Mpox: UK preparing after virus declared global emergency - as Sweden records first case

Preparations include making sure rapid testing will be available. A global emergency has been declared, with one expert stating there are reports of cases in 16 countries in Africa.
news.sky.com news.sky.com
 
Three monkeypox cases 'confirmed' in Pakistan

At least three patients have been diagnosed with the monkeypox virus in Pakistan, health authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa confirmed on Friday.

All patients, whose cases have been confirmed by the health department in KP, were detected with the virus following their arrival from an Arab country, the department said.

Pakistan has had cases of Mpox previously and it was not immediately clear which variant was detected in the patients, Reuters reported.

Earlier, surveillance at the airports was tightened across Pakistan after the country confirmed its first case of monkeypox in KP's Peshawar, The News reported on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Border Health Services (BHS) and provincial authorities have also been put on high alert in the wake of the case's detection in the country's north-western province.

Authorities have issued instructions to establish isolation wards in designated hospitals, stocking antiviral medications and ensuring the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers and all healthcare facilities and points of entry.

Following the detection, additional samples have also been collected from individuals in close contact with the patient. The Health Ministry has also directed intensified monitoring at all entry points to prevent further cases from entering the country.

The country, on Thursday, confirmed its first monkeypox case this year after a resident of Dir, who currently resides in Mardan, tested positive after he returned to Pakistan from a Middle Eastern country on August 3, an official from the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHS,R&C) told the publication.

"Provincial health authorities are now engaged in contact tracing," the official added.

The case was confirmed just a day after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the disease a global health emergency of public concern.

The case marks the 11th instance of Mpox in Pakistan over the past two years and the first in 2024. Last year, a patient co-infected with HIV and Mpox passed away at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad.

In the past year, Pakistan had 10 confirmed Mpox cases, all linked to travellers from the Middle East and other regions. The recurrence of cases among travellers highlights the critical need for rigorous border screening and monitoring.

During a special NCOC session, officials noted that around 15 African countries are currently reporting Mpox cases, with 2,030 confirmed infections.

The spread to previously unaffected regions like Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda since mid-July 2024 indicates the virus’s growing reach.

GEO NEWS
 
Champ_Pal said:
Another Covid Pandemic.

Time to head to bunkers and maintain 6 feet distance from your Mom and Dad.
Click to expand...
It is nowhere near as dangerous as covid. It is mostly spread by touch and close contact with the infected.
But it is a nuisance as it can be spread through infected seats in public places. So one must was hands or use santitizers after moving about in public areas.
 
gani999 said:
It is nowhere near as dangerous as covid. It is mostly spread by touch and close contact with the infected.
But it is a nuisance as it can be spread through infected seats in public places. So one must was hands or use santitizers after moving about in public areas.
Click to expand...

Monkeypox has a higher mortality rate than Covid. It depends on the variant.
 
gani999 said:
It is nowhere near as dangerous as covid. It is mostly spread by touch and close contact with the infected.
But it is a nuisance as it can be spread through infected seats in public places. So one must was hands or use santitizers after moving about in public areas.
Click to expand...

It has a higher mortality rate by far . It’s not as infectious as Covid , which was no more serious than a flu for most people.

Governments gave a lot of power & influence to WHO after the lab created coronavirus.

Will you be taking the vaccine ??
 
gani999 said:
It is nowhere near as dangerous as covid. It is mostly spread by touch and close contact with the infected.
But it is a nuisance as it can be spread through infected seats in public places. So one must was hands or use santitizers after moving about in public areas.
Click to expand...
It all depends on what experts on infectious diseases like Anthony Fauci comes out and says. If he says we all should walk on our knuckles then the chances of infection reduces, we all will do it. (y)
 
KingKhanWC said:
It has a higher mortality rate by far . It’s not as infectious as Covid , which was no more serious than a flu for most people.

Governments gave a lot of power & influence to WHO after the lab created coronavirus.

Will you be taking the vaccine ??
Click to expand...
No cases so far where I live. But if it starts spreading fast then I might consider taking the vaccine.
 
gani999 said:
No cases so far where I live. But if it starts spreading fast then I might consider taking the vaccine.
Click to expand...

Pls think carefully before you take this vaccine . It’s not proven or tested . Smallpox vaccine is different
 
People advised to get vaccine if they are travelling to affected African countries

People should get vaccinated against mpox if travelling to an African country affected by the latest outbreak, the EU's public health body has said.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has updated its advice after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global emergency following the detection of a more contagious strain of the virus in 16 African countries.

The outbreak of the strain - called clade 1b - was first detected in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The endemic form of the virus, clade 1, has also been spreading throughout Africa.

More than 17,000 mpox cases and at least 571 deaths have been confirmed in Africa this year, officials have said. The figures exceed last year's totals.

The UK has been preparing for cases after a person in Sweden was found to have the clade 1b strain of mpox.

The disease, previously known as monkeypox, is a viral infection that causes pus-filled lesions and flu-like symptoms. It is usually mild but can kill.

It is passed on through close physical contact and symptoms include a high temperature, headache, muscle aches, backache, and a rash.


news.sky.com

Mpox: People advised to get vaccine if they are travelling to affected African countries

The EU's public health body has said it is "highly likely" Europe will have "more imported cases of mpox" after the virus was detected in at least 16 African nations.
news.sky.com news.sky.com
 
Is India at risk after WHO's global health emergency alert on Mpox? Report says

The risk of an upsurge of Mpox cases, formerly known as monkeypox, remains very low in India, according to health ministry officials, even as the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the disease a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) following a surge in cases in Africa.

The last reported Mpox case in India was in March this year from Kerala, reported PTI quoting official sources within the health ministry.

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Since 2022, the country has documented 30 laboratory-confirmed cases of the viral infection.

"At the moment, the risk of a surge in monkeypox infection is very low in India and there is no need to panic," PTI quoted the person aware of the development as saying.

In response to the global situation, the health ministry may issue advisories to points of entry such as airports and seaports, instructing them to be vigilant and prepared to manage suspected cases as per existing guidelines. These guidelines include protocols for isolation and treatment to prevent potential spread.

Union health minister Jagat Prakash Nadda is expected to hold a meeting on Saturday with officials from the ministry, the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to review the situation and ensure all necessary precautions are in place.

India’s guidelines on the management of Mpox, issued in 2022, outline that human-to-human transmission primarily occurs through large respiratory droplets requiring prolonged close contact. The virus can also spread via direct contact with bodily fluids or lesion material and indirectly through contaminated clothing or linen.

Outbreak in Europe

The recent upsurge has prompted several countries, including those in Europe, to raise their alert levels. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) increased its risk assessment for Mpox to "moderate" from "low" following the detection of a new strain in Sweden, the first case outside Africa.

Despite rising global concerns, the WHO has advised against imposing travel restrictions, and countries like China and Pakistan have introduced monitoring measures for incoming travellers.

SOURCE: https://www.hindustantimes.com/indi...lert-on-mpox-report-says-101723817689226.html
 

Airports on high alert as Pakistan intensifies steps against monkeypox​


Lahore Airport has been placed on high alert after the emergence of monkeypox (mpox) cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). In response, the Border Health Management convened an emergency meeting with all airport managers, tightening protocols to prevent the spread of the virus.

As part of the precautionary steps, thermal scanners have been installed at Lahore airport to monitor incoming passengers, and passengers as well as the airport staff have been instructed to wear masks. Passengers arriving at the airport are also required to wear masks, according to the Airport Manager, Nazir Ahmad Khan.

“Fumigation is already underway at the airport, and isolation rooms are being established for any suspected monkeypox cases,” Nazir Ahmad Khan stated.

Punjab Health Department instructions

The Punjab Health Department has issued additional directives to airport authorities across the province, including the establishment of isolation rooms. In collaboration with health officials, the airport management has developed protocols for quarantining and managing suspected mpox patients.

According to health department guidelines, aviation will be alerted if the symptoms of monkeypox are identified in a passenger, and those exhibiting temperatures above 97°F will be quarantined. The patient will then be handed over to Border Health Management for further screening.

Airline crews have been instructed to separate suspected patients from other passengers while still on board, allowing them to disembark at the end. Rescue 1122 services will transfer suspected cases to designated hospitals, where patients will remain in isolation until test results confirm the diagnosis.

Airport staff will also operate thermal scanners around the clock in three shifts. Plans for personal protective equipment (PPE) provision and PCR testing facilities for airport staff are in the works, ensuring heightened protection for personnel.

Punjab designates 6 hospitals

Meanwhile, Punjab’s health department has allocated six hospitals across the province to handle suspected monkeypox patients. In Lahore, General Hospital has been designated for treatment, while other hospitals include Benazir Bhutto Hospital in Rawalpindi, Allied Hospital in Faisalabad, Allama Iqbal Hospital in Sialkot, and Nishtar Hospital in Multan. Bahawal Victoria Hospital has set up an isolation ward for Bahawalpur patients.

Suspected patients coming from abroad will be transferred to these hospitals that have been directed to set up quarantine wards for monkeypox patients.

Karachi airport on alert

In Karachi, the Sindh Health Department has implemented similar arrangements. According to Dr. Zafar Mehdi, spokesperson for the Karachi airport health team, two Rescue 1122 ambulances have been stationed at the airport, and complete medical check-ups of incoming passengers are being conducted.

“Tests will be conducted on any passengers showing symptoms, and they will be isolated in government hospitals until test results are received,” he said.

Monkeypox transmission

Addressing the situation at a press conference, Prime Minister’s Coordinator for National Health, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, clarified the origins and transmission risks associated with monkeypox. "This virus first appeared in Africa in 1974 and is primarily found in animals but has now infected humans. To date, Pakistan has reported only one case of mpox,” Dr. Mukhtar said.

He explained that the virus spreads through respiratory droplets, often infecting those in close proximity to the patient. Although the virus is not as dangerous as COVID-19, Dr. Mukhtar stressed the importance of immediately isolating patients and taking timely preventive measures.

“All passengers arriving from abroad are being screened, and their families should take necessary precautions,” he urged.

As the nation braces for potential mpox cases, health officials are urging citizens to remain cautious while reiterating that the situation remains under control, with all necessary measures in place to prevent an outbreak.

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Airports on high alert as Pakistan intensifies steps against monkeypox

Lahore Airport is on high alert following the emergence of monkeypox in KP. The Punjab Health Department has implemented strict protocols, including thermal scanning, mandatory masks, and isolation rooms. Six hospitals have been designated for handling potential cases.
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K-P's first diagnosed monkeypox patient reported missing from home in Mardan​


The first monkeypox patient in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has gone missing from his home in Mardan.

According to sources, the individual, who had returned from Saudi Arabia, was diagnosed with monkeypox.

The health department reported that the diagnosis was made in Peshawar.

However, when a medical team visited the patient's residence to provide guidelines, the house was found locked.

Further inquiry with the District Health Officer (DHO) of the patient's native area in Dir revealed that the patient was not present there either.

The health ministry and relevant authorities are now intensifying their investigation and response efforts.

The World Health Organization has declared recent outbreak of the disease as a public health emergency of international concern after a new variant of the virus has been identified.

Pakistan has had cases of mpox, also called monkeypox, previously. It was not immediately clear which variant was detected in the patients.

Global health officials on Thursday confirmed an infection with a new strain of the mpox virus in Sweden and linked it to a growing outbreak in Africa, the first sign of its spread outside the continent a day after the World Health Organization declared the disease a global public health emergency.

The WHO on Wednesday declared the outbreak in Africa a public health emergency of international concern, its highest level of alert, after cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo spread to nearby countries.

There have been 27,000 cases and more than 1,100 deaths, mainly among children, in Congo since the current outbreak began in January 2023.

The disease, caused by the monkeypox virus, can cause a painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes and fever and can make some people very ill, the WHO website says.

tribune.com.pk

K-P's first diagnosed monkeypox patient reported missing from home in Mardan | The Express Tribune

Patient, who had returned from Saudi Arabia, was found missing when a medical team visited the patient's residence.
tribune.com.pk tribune.com.pk
 

PM Shehbaz calls emergency meeting to address global mpox risks​


Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has convened an urgent meeting at the PM House to address the global threats posed by monkeypox.

According to Express News, the meeting will focus on the current situation, preparations for combating the disease, and preventive measures.

During the meeting, the premier will be briefed on the arrangements at airports, borders, and hospitals.

Discussions will also cover the availability of testing laboratories, lab kits, relevant medications, and the screening systems in place.

Chief secretaries from all four provinces, along with officials from the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), will participate in the meeting.

Health Coordinator Dr Malik Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath, the secretary of health, and the director general of Health will also attend.

The session will include a briefing on international health establishment measures and airport arrangements, with the PM expected to issue necessary directives to all relevant authorities.

On Friday, officials reported that the government ordered strict surveillance and precautionary measures at all entry points, including airports, as the emergence of two more monkeypox virus cases raised the total number of confirmed patients to at least three.

The Border Health Services Pakistan issued a letter to the relevant officials for strict monitoring and precautionary measures to check the spread of monkeypox, also called mpox, that has killed hundreds of people in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and its neighbouring countries in Africa.

The letter came as the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) health department confirmed two mpox cases in the province. On Thursday the federal health ministry confirmed the country's first mpox case – also a resident of K-P, who had recently returned from Saudi Arabia.

Mpox cases in the country

On August 15, Pakistan's Ministry of National Health revealed the country’s first suspected case of monkeypox (Mpox).

According to a statement from the health ministry's spokesperson, a citizen from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, who recently arrived from a Gulf country, displayed symptoms of Mpox.

Officials reported that the affected individual experienced mild symptoms, and efforts are underway to trace and test those who have been in contact with him.

Yesterday, the number of patients diagnosed with the mpox virus in Pakistan reached three with another suspected case awaiting confirmation.

Salim Khan, the director general of health services for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. said on Friday that two more patients were detected on their arrival from the United Arab Emirates,

A third patient's samples had been sent to the National Health Institute in the capital, Islamabad, for confirmation, he said, adding all three patients were being quarantined.

tribune.com.pk

PM Shehbaz calls emergency meeting to address global mpox risks | The Express Tribune

National tally of confirmed Mpox cases has reached three, with one more suspected case pending confirmation so far
tribune.com.pk tribune.com.pk
 
Goddamit.

Is this thing going to be like Covid, with lockdowns et al?
 
Varun said:
Goddamit.

Is this thing going to be like Covid, with lockdowns et al?
Click to expand...
Guys, really . Stop panicking.

Monkey pox has a fatality rate of 4% and it is not as contagious as Covid. Cholera, dengue, TB and several others have much higher mortality rates, are way more contagious and have been around forever. There have never been any lockdowns because of these.

Like I said before, monkeypox can be a nuisance as it is spread by touch. So precautions are definitely needed. But it is not going to result in any worldwide pandemic.
 
gani999 said:
Guys, really . Stop panicking.

Monkey pox has a fatality rate of 4% and it is not as contagious as Covid. Cholera, dengue, TB and several others have much higher mortality rates, are way more contagious and have been around forever. There have never been any lockdowns because of these.

Like I said before, monkeypox can be a nuisance as it is spread by touch. So precautions are definitely needed. But it is not going to result in any worldwide pandemic.
Click to expand...

Let's wait and watch (hope).

I'm sure there were similar posts like yours back in Feb 2020.
 

Govt enhances surveillance, screening for mpox; advises public against worrying​


Prime Minister’s Coordinator for Health Dr Malik Mukhtar Ahmad on Saturday said that the government has formulated a comprehensive strategy to protect the people from mpox and advised the public against worrying.

Mpox, formerly called monkeypox, can spread through close contact. Usually mild, it is fatal in rare cases. It causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions on the body.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the recent outbreak of the disease as a public health emergency of international concern on Wednesday after the new variant of the virus was identified.

A new form of the virus has triggered global concern because it seems to spread more easily through routine close contact. A case of the new variant was confirmed on Thursday in Sweden and linked to a growing outbreak in Africa, the first sign of its spread outside the continent. Pakistan’s first suspected case was quarantined on Thursday as well and instructions were subsequently issued to enhance monitoring.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad today, Dr Ahmad said that people need not worry as only one case was reported in the country, adding that surveillance and screening mechanisms were in place at all airports and points of entry.

Dr Ahmad said laboratories were allocated for diagnosis in all provinces and the federal capital. He said cases were reported from Africa and travellers from Africa, America and the Gulf countries would be monitored.

He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the federal capital and provinces have taken steps on a joint priority basis. Dr Ahmad said the Ministry of Health was ensuring continuous monitoring on a daily basis and the government was also closely monitoring the situation.

Source: Dawn News
 
gani999 said:
Guys, really . Stop panicking.

Monkey pox has a fatality rate of 4% and it is not as contagious as Covid. Cholera, dengue, TB and several others have much higher mortality rates, are way more contagious and have been around forever. There have never been any lockdowns because of these.

Like I said before, monkeypox can be a nuisance as it is spread by touch. So precautions are definitely needed. But it is not going to result in any worldwide pandemic.
Click to expand...

One variant called Clade I can be lethal.

Check here: https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/mpox/about/index.html.

  • Clade I causes more severe illness and deaths. Some outbreaks have killed up to 10% of the people who get sick, although more recent outbreaks have had lower death rates. Clade I is endemic to Central Africa.
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Islamabad mandates reporting of Monkeypox cases in hospitals

The District Health Office (DHO) in Islamabad has issued a directive to all government and private hospitals, mandating the immediate reporting of monkeypox cases in the federal capital, ARY News reported on Saturday.

In a letter addressed to healthcare facilities, the DHO emphasized the urgency of appointing a focal person to handle monkeypox (Mpox) cases and to ensure timely communication with the DHO office.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Mpox a public health emergency, prompting stricter surveillance measures in the federal capital.

Since April 2023, eleven cases of Mpox have been reported across Pakistan.

Hospitals are now required to report any suspected or confirmed cases of monkeypox to the DHO office within 12 hours.

Additionally, a designated surveillance officer will monitor the situation closely to prevent further spread of the disease.

The DHO stressed that both government and private hospitals must comply with these guidelines to protect public health.

In response to the growing concern of mpox virus spread, Pakistan’s Border Health Services has issued a notification to intensify surveillance and precautionary measures at all entry points, including airports.

The move aims to prevent the potential spread of the virus into the country.

The notification directs authorities to enhance screening measures for passengers, particularly those with suspicious wounds or symptoms associated with the virus.

Furthermore, the government has instructed to revive and strengthen existing systems at entry points to effectively deal with the situation.

Pakistan’s health ministry has confirmed at least one case of the mpox virus in a patient who had returned from a Gulf country, it said on Friday, though they did not yet know the strain of the virus.

ARY NEWS
 
gani999 said:
Guys, really . Stop panicking.

Monkey pox has a fatality rate of 4% and it is not as contagious as Covid. Cholera, dengue, TB and several others have much higher mortality rates, are way more contagious and have been around forever. There have never been any lockdowns because of these.

Like I said before, monkeypox can be a nuisance as it is spread by touch. So precautions are definitely needed. But it is not going to result in any worldwide pandemic.
Click to expand...
LOL covid was a big spam.
BIg pharma dude.
 
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Govt forms technical committee to combat Monkeypox threat in Punjab

In response to the looming threat of monkeypox in Punjab, the provincial government has established a technical committee dedicated to the prevention and diagnosis of the virus in the province, ARY News reported on Sunday.

The committee is headed by former Caretaker Health Minister Dr. Javed Akram and includes 20 senior health department officials.

Members from Border Health Services, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization are also part of the committee, along with representatives from DG Health Punjab and Rescue 1122.

The formation of this committee underscores the government’s proactive approach to managing and mitigating the risk of monkeypox in the region.

A day earlier, three confirmed cases of monkeypox disease have been reported yet in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province and all the patients have returned from Gulf countries.

In a press statement issued here on Friday, said Director Public Health Dr. Irshad Ahmad Roghani said the Health Department is establishing isolation wards for Mpox patients while COVID teams have been made functional at their stations of duty.

“Contact tracing of suspected patients is also in progress to detect further spread of the disease,” he added.

World Health Organization (WHO) has already declared a public health emergency of international concern, to prevent the spread of a new variant of Mpox viral virus.


ARY News
 
Monkeypox threat: New directives issued to all international airlines

In response to the growing threat of monkeypox in the country, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has implemented new safety protocols for all international airlines arriving at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, ARY News reported on Monday.

The CAA in its directives mandate that airlines must provide face masks to all passengers, and ensure that both international airline staff and ground handling service providers wear masks at all times.

The use of hand sanitizers by airport staff and passengers has also been strongly advised. Furthermore, the luggage of all passengers arriving from abroad is to be disinfected thoroughly.

The CAA has instructed to isolate the passengers displaying symptoms of monkeypox, with the guidelines provided by Border Health Services.

In addition to these measures, Karachi Airport has intensified its health screening procedures.

Passengers from over 22 flights have undergone medical examinations, with no cases of monkeypox detected so far.

Dr Zafar Mehdi, the focal person for the Sindh Health Department, confirmed that more than 20 doctors and paramedical staff are on duty around the clock at the airport.

Special rooms have been set up to examine any passengers suspected of carrying the virus, ensuring that all necessary precautions are in place to protect public health.


ARY News
 
I guess time to stock up on masks and hand sanitizers.

Other than that, just being careful, doing regular exercise, and eating healthy.
 
Another traveller from Gulf hospitalised in Islamabad for mpox test

Amid a heightened state of alert on all entry points in the country, Border Health Services (BHS) at Islamabad Airport on Monday spotted another suspected case of mpox.

“The 47-year-old suspect who arrived from a Gulf country was shifted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) and admitted to the isolation ward. His sample has been sent to the National Institute of Health (NIH) for the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test,” Pims focal person for mpox Dr Naseem Akhtar told Dawn.

The infectious diseases expert said the suspected patient, who belonged to Azad Jammu and Kashmir, works as a labourer in a Gulf country. She said the condition of the patient is not serious and he will recover soon. “We will start contact tracing once the sample is declared positive by NIH,” she said.

Health Ministry spokesperson Sajid Shah said it was a good sign that the suspected passenger has been identified and isolated at the airport. “It shows that the country has been strictly following international health regulations and the practice will reduce the chances of outbreak of local transmission of the disease,” he said.

He said that Prime Minister’s Coordinator for Health Dr Malik Mukhtar on Monday visited the Islamabad International Airport and inspected screening arrangements to ensure no suspected patient of mpox enters the country without being identified.

“Dr Mukhtar also took briefing from the BHS staff and inspected arrangements made for screening of passengers at all entry points so that international health regulations are ensured,” he said.

The first person who was found positive for mpox, came from a Gulf country and reached Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Later, he went to a hospital for some other complications, but was diagnosed with mpox.

Sajid Shah said that mpox virus strain, in thhttps://www.dawn.com/news/1853432/women-renew-strong-bond-of-love-with-brothers-on-raksha-bandhane first case of country from Mardan, has been classified as Clade IIb. “Mpox virus is categorised into two primary clades: Clade I and Clade II. The previous global outbreak from 2022 to 2023 was predominantly linked to Clade II, which is known to cause milder symptoms compared to Clade I. Currently, the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is primarily associated with Clade Ib. As of now, there have been no reported cases of Clade I in the country,” he said.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the recent outbreak of the disease a public health emergency of international concern after a new variant was identified.

The WHO last week sounded the highest level of alert over the outbreak of the disease in Africa after cases in the DRC spread to nearby countries. There have been 27,000 cases and more than 1,100 deaths, mainly among children, in DRC since the current outbreak of the disease in January 2023.

Global health officials last week confirmed an infection with the new strain of mpox in Sweden and linked it to a growing outbreak in Africa, the first sign of its spread outside the continent.

DAWN NEWS
 
Mpox not new Covid and can be stopped, expert says

Mpox is "not the new Covid", because authorities clearly know how to control its spread, a leading World Health Organization expert has said.

Despite real concern about a new variant of the virus, and a global alert, Europe regional director Dr Hans Kluge told journalists, together we could - and must - tackle mpox.

And strong action now - including ensuring vaccines reach the areas most in need - could stop another cycle of panic and neglect.

A case of the new variant, Clade Ib, was confirmed in Sweden last week and linked to a growing outbreak in Africa.

Mpox has killed at least 450 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the former Zaire, in recent months, linked to Clade Ib.

There is still a lot to learn about the new variant, experts say, but it may be spreading more easily, causing more serious disease.

No Clade Ib cases have been seen in the UK - but experts warn it can spread unless international action is taken.

A different variant, Clade II, was behind the 2022 outbreak that initially affected Europe and continues to circulate in many parts of the world.

But experts know how to control mpox, regardless of the variant - through non-discriminatory public-health action and equitable access to vaccines, Dr Kluge says.

The virus, which causes a fever and rash, can be spread by skin-to-skin contact with lesions, including during sex.

Spread quickly

Dr Kluge said the risk to the general population was low.

"Are we going to go in lockdown in the WHO European region, it's another Covid-19? The answer is clearly: 'no'," he said.

"Two years ago, we controlled mpox in Europe thanks to the direct engagement with the most affected communities of men who have sex with men," Dr Kluge said.

"In 2022, mpox showed us it can spread quickly around the world.

"We can, and must, tackle mpox together – across regions and continents.

"Will we choose to put the systems in place to control and eliminate mpox globally or will we enter another cycle of panic, then neglect?"

About 100 new Clade II cases were now being reported in the European region every month, Dr Kluge added.

Travellers to affected areas in Africa have been advised to consider vaccination.

WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said the WHO was not recommending the use of masks.

"We are not recommending mass vaccination. We are recommending to use vaccines in outbreak settings for the groups who are most at risk," he added.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has said it has a "clear plan" to get 10 million doses of vaccine for the continent.

The DRC and Nigeria will begin vaccinating from next week.

Danish vaccine manufacturer, Bavarian Nordic, will transfer its technology to African manufacturers so the vaccine can be made locally in order to increase the supply and reduce the cost, it added.

Speaking in a press briefing, Director General of Africa CDC, Dr Jean Kaseya, also pleaded countries not to punish Africa with travel bans.

"I clearly request our partners to stop thinking about travel bans against Africans, that one will bring us back on the unfair treatment that we had during the Covid time.

"Solidarity means we need you to provide appropriate support in terms of medical counter-measures," he said.

BBC
 
Thailand confirms first Asian case of new Mpox strain

Thailand has announced its first confirmed case of a new, potentially deadlier strain of Mpox - the first in Asia, and second outside of Africa.

According to Thailand's Department of Disease Control, the infected 66-year-old European man arrived in Bangkok from an unnamed African country on 14 August.

He began displaying symptoms the next day, and immediately went to hospital. It has since been confirmed he had contracted Mpox, and in particular the strain known as Clade 1b.

At least 450 people have died from Mpox in an outbreak centred in the Democratic Repulic of Congo which started last year.

It has since spread to a number of nearby countries - including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, all of which were previously unaffected by Mpox.

Now a more worrying strain of Mpox called Clade 1b has been identified in the east of the DRC, which is being spread along the border and into neighbouring countries.

Sweden was the first place outside of the African continent to confirm a case of Clade 1b a week ago. The infected man had also recently travelled to an unnamed African country, Sweden's public health ministry said at the time.

The infection in Thailand is the first confirmed case of Clade 1b in Asia.

Mpox is transmitted through close contact, such as sex, skin-to-skin contact and talking or breathing close to another person – but it is nowhere near as infectious as other viruses like Covid and measles.

But the spread of the new variant and its high fatality rate in parts of Africa has sparked concern among scientists, and led the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare it a public health emergency of international concern.

Outbreaks can be controlled by spreading awareness of the disease, tracking close contacts and preventing infections with vaccines, though these are usually only available for people at risk or those who have been in close contact with an infected person.

Vaccines in Africa are in short supply, but there are plans for millions of doses to arrive in the DRC in the next week or so.

In Thailand, the Department of Disease Control has tracked down some 43 patients who were sitting in the rows near the unidentified man, and those who met him after he landed.

They will all be monitored for 21 days.

Thailand is also requiring people travelling from 42 "risk countries" to test on arrival.

Mpox causes flu-like symptoms and skin lesions. For most people, it’s a mild illness but it can be fatal.

The new strain spreading in central Africa is thought to be more deadly than previous ones - with four in 100 cases leading to death. Mpox is most common in the tropical rainforests of West and Central Africa and there are thousands of infections every year.

Another strain - Clade 2 - which is far milder, caused a global public health emergency in 2022. There are still cases of that Mpox strain in many countries.

BBC
 

Second mpox case in Pakistan confirmed at Peshawar Airport​


The Ministry of Health has confirmed a second case of monkeypox in Pakistan, identified at Peshawar Airport.

According to a spokesperson for the ministry, the patient had arrived from a Gulf country displaying symptoms of the virus, and tested positive upon arrival.

The health desk at the airport promptly transferred the patient to a hospital for further treatment.

Dr Mukhtar Ahmad, the Prime Minister's Coordinator for Health, stated that the Ministry of Health is closely monitoring the situation.

“Effective screening and surveillance systems are in place at all airports,” he said, adding that border health staff are diligently working at airports and entry points.

“We are committed to ensuring serious measures to protect the public from outbreaks,” Dr Mukhtar added.

A case of mpox in Pakistan announced last week was not the new strain spreading through Africa, health officials confirmed last Monday.

The mpox diagnosis in a 34-year-old man recently returned from a Gulf country was declared by health officials on Friday, while testing over the exact strain was carried out.

"The virus has been classified as Clade 2b," the health ministry said in a statement.

"Currently, the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is primarily associated with Clade 1b. Notably, as of now, there have been no reported cases of Clade 1b in Pakistan."

Mpox infections surged worldwide in May 2022, mostly affecting gay and bisexual men due to the Clade 2b subclade, but cases have largely subsided.

The World Health Organisation declared last week the rapid spread of the new Clade 1b strain in Africa a public health emergency of international concern – the highest alarm it can sound.

Sweden's Public Health Agency said Thursday that it had registered a case of the Clade 1b subclade, the first to be diagnosed out of Africa.

Around 16,000 cases have been recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the epicentre of the epidemic which has killed 548 people in the country so far.

tribune.com.pk

Second mpox case in Pakistan confirmed at Peshawar Airport | The Express Tribune

Health desk at the airport promptly transferred the patient to a hospital for further treatment
tribune.com.pk tribune.com.pk
 
WHO says partners can start talks to buy mpox vaccines before its approval

The World Health Organization said on Friday its partners such as Gavi and United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (Unicef) can start buying mpox vaccines before they are approved by the UN health agency, in a bid to get inoculations to Africa faster as the continent battles an escalating outbreak of the virus.

Traditionally, organisations like Gavi, an alliance which helps lower-income countries buy vaccines, can only start purchasing shots once they have approval from the WHO. But the rules have been relaxed in this instance to get talks moving, as the WHO's approval is due in a few weeks.

Two vaccines, made by Denmark's Bavarian Nordic BAVA.CO and Japan's KM Biologics, are already approved by regulators around the world, including the United States and Japan, and have been in widespread use for mpox since 2022. Around 1.2 million people have had Bavarian Nordic's vaccine in the United States alone. The WHO is expected to grant an emergency licence to the shots in September.

Mpox, a viral infection that spreads through close contact and is usually mild but can kill, was declared a public emergency of international concern by the WHO last week after a new offshoot of the virus spread quickly in Democratic Republic of Congo and beyond.

Earlier this month, the WHO asked vaccine manufacturers to submit information so it could accelerate its approval process, and grant an emergency licence by mid-September.

However this week, one of the vaccine manufacturers, Bavarian Nordic, said it needed orders immediately from organisations like Gavi and the WHO to make more shots this year, raising fears that lower-income countries could miss out or be forced to rely once again on precarious donations from high-income countries, as happened during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some donated mpox vaccines are due to arrive in Africa next week, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has said.

GEO NEWS
 
While it hasn't caused any lockdown yet where I live, I am mentally prepared for it to happen.

It is spreading. So, people should be vigilant.

======================================

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/8/22/mapped-which-countries-have-reported-mpox-cases-so-far.

Where has mpox spread?​

Burundi, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, the Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand and Uganda have reported cases – a total of 18.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the virus a “public health emergency of international concern” while emphasising that mpox is “not the new COVID“.

This is the second emergency alert relating to mpox from the global health agency in two years.

The current outbreak is triggered by Clade 1, believed to be a more serious variant that can spread through skin-to-skin contact.

Mpox has been identified in Africa since 2022, originally traced to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

In 2023, a new strain of Clade 1 was discovered in DRC – Clade 1b.

A different outbreak of the virus’s earlier Clade 2 variant is also spreading, although at lower levels, with more than 100 countries reporting infections by last month.

​

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Germany to donate 100,000 mpox vaccine doses to combat outbreak in Africa

Germany will donate 100,000 mpox vaccine doses from its military stocks to help contain the outbreak on the African continent in the short term as well as provide help to the affected countries, said a government spokesperson on Monday.

The government will provide the World Health Organization with flexible financial resources via various instruments to combat mpox and also support its partners in Africa through the GAVI vaccination alliance, added the spokesperson.

Germany has around 117,000 doses of Jynneos, which is being stockpiled by the German army after Berlin procured it in 2022.

It will keep a minimum amount of stock, to protect travelling authorities, for example, said a defence ministry spokesperson on Monday. A separate decision would need to be made when it comes to reordering vaccines, he added.

The World Health Organization has declared mpox a global public health emergency after an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo spread to neighbouring countries and a new form of the virus, clade Ib, triggered concerns about the speed of transmission.

The government was looking at the quickest way to get the vaccines to the affected countries, primarily the Democratic Republic of Congo, but also Burundi and neighbouring countries in East Africa, according to a foreign ministry spokesperson.

SOURCE:https://www.reuters.com/business/he...cine-doses-combat-outbreak-africa-2024-08-26/
 
Africa's mpox response is less than 10% funded, says Africa CDC

Africa has secured less than 10% of the estimated $245 million it needs to fight a surging mpox outbreak on the continent, a senior official from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said on Wednesday.

The continent is under pressure to curb an outbreak of the potentially deadly infection that the World Health Organization declared to be a global health emergency in mid-August, after a new strain began proliferating from Democratic Republic of Congo to neighbouring countries.

Africa CDC has pulled together a budget to determine the amount of money available for the mpox response and the resources it needs to mobilise.

"We've come to the first estimate of $245 million," Africa CDC Chief of Staff Ngashi Ngongo said at a WHO meeting in the Republic of Congo's capital Brazzaville.

Democratic Republic of Congo's government has committed $10 million to support the fight against the outbreak while the African Union has approved $10.4 million, Ngongo said.

Therefore, about $20 million is currently available for the response, he said, adding that these figures would be updated.

"The current gap where we stand today is about $224 million that we are looking for," he said.

Jean Kaseya, director general of Africa CDC, said during the meeting that the organisation was moving towards securing almost 1 million doses of mpox vaccine.

Those include 215,000 doses from vaccine maker Bavarian Nordic (BAVA.CO), opens new tab, 100,000 doses from France, almost 100,000 doses from Germany and about 500,000 doses from Spain.

There is no timeline yet on when the vaccines might reach the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is the most affected by the virus.

Mpox, a viral infection that causes pus-filled lesions and flu-like symptoms, is usually mild but can kill.

REUTERS
 
Pakistan has confirmed its third case of the mpox virus, previously known as monkeypox, at Bacha Khan International Airport, according to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Public Health Director Dr Irshad Ali Roghani

This comes as global concern grows over the new Clade 1b variant, recently identified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a public health emergency of international concern.

Dr Irshad reported that medical personnel at the airport detected two travellers displaying symptoms of mpox on Thursday.

Both individuals, who were on the same flight from Jeddah, were promptly transferred to Police and Services Hospital (PSH) for treatment.

The confirmed case involves a 51-year-old man from Orakzai, who is reported to be in stable condition and receiving care at PSH.

This case marks the third confirmed instance of mpox in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa this year.

No locally transmitted cases have been recorded thus far.

Dr Irshad emphasised that while the Clade 1b variant spreads easily through close contact, the current outbreak does not equate to another Covid-19 scenario, as substantial knowledge and control measures for the virus are already in place.

The health ministry had previously noted that the first mpox case in Pakistan was of the clade 2 variety.

Last week’s second case was also detected at Peshawar airport, highlighting the importance of vigilance and prompt response in managing the outbreak.

“We are closely monitoring the situation and have implemented all necessary measures to control the spread,” Dr Irshad assured.

Source: The Express Tribune
 
Medics plead for vaccines in DR Congo's mpox battleground

Medical staff on the front line of the battle against mpox in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have told the BBC they are desperate for vaccines to arrive so they can stem the rate of new infections.

At a treatment centre in South Kivu province that the BBC visited in the epicentre of the outbreak, they say more patients are arriving every day - especially babies - and there is a shortage of essential equipment.

Mpox - formerly known as monkeypox - is a highly contagious disease and has killed at least 635 people in DR Congo this year.

Even though 200,000 vaccines, donated by the European Commission, were flown into the capital, Kinshasa, last week, they are yet to be transported across this vast country - and it could be several weeks before they reach South Kivu.

“We've learned from social media that the vaccine is already available,” Emmanuel Fikiri, a nurse working at the clinic that has been turned into a specialist centre to tackle the virus, told the BBC.

He said this was the first time he had treated patients with mpox and every day he feared catching it and passing it on to his own children - aged seven, five and one.

“You saw how I touched the patients because that's my job as a nurse. So, we're asking the government to help us by first giving us the vaccines.”

The reason it will take time to transport the vaccines is that they need to be stored at a precise temperature - below freezing - to maintain their potency, plus they need to be sent to rural areas of South Kivu, like Kamituga, Kavumu and Lwiro, where the outbreak is rife.

The lack of infrastructure and bad roads mean that helicopters could possibly be used to drop some of the vaccines, which will further drive up costs in a country that is already struggling financially.

At the community clinic, Dr Pacifique Karanzo appeared fatigued and downbeat having been rushed off his feet all morning.

Although he wore a face shield, I could see the sweat running down his face. He said he was saddened to see patients sharing beds.

“You will even see that the patients are sleeping on the floor,” he told me, clearly exasperated.

“The only support we have already had is a little medicine for the patients and water. As far as other challenges are concerned, there's still no staff motivation.”

Another problem, he said, was that there was not enough personal protective equipment [PPE] for the medics.

“We try to do what we can to look after the sick and not put ourselves at risk either. We're not spared from disease.”

As you enter Lwiro community hospital, which is about an hour’s drive north of South Kivu’s main city of Bukavu, two main things hit you.

First the resounding and loud cries of babies. The second is the stench - a mix of urine and stagnant water.

The clinic is running out of clean water, meaning they have to ration what they have in the small jerrycans underneath their beds.

Within the last three weeks, the clinic, which usually treats about 80 patients a month, has been inundated with nearly 200 patients - who are getting younger.

“It’s sad to see my firstborn suffering from this strange disease. I have a lot of pain in my heart,” 18-year-old Faraja Rukara said.

Her son, Murhula, is currently the youngest mpox case at the clinic - at only four weeks old. This is the first time she, like many others here, have encountered mpox, which is caused by a virus in the same family as smallpox.

The disease causes a loss of appetite, leaving many of the children malnourished.

In an adjacent room, several women and children - nearly 20 - were crammed inside, sharing only seven beds and two mattresses that were laid on the floor.

The hospital’s first mpox case did recover - 10-month-old Amenipa Kabuya. But not long after being discharged, her mother, Yvette Kabuya, returned as she too has fallen ill with mpox.

Witnessing what the disease does to the body - the painful puss-filled lesions, the fever and the weight loss - means people are keen for the vaccines - unusual in an area that has witnessed vaccine hesitancy in the past.

Beatrice Kachera, 50, gently caressed the cheek of her three-year-old granddaughter who she had rushed here in a panic: “I just saw the child get sick, I didn’t even know the name of the disease.

“We can't wait for children and even adults to die. Bring on the vaccines,” she told the BBC.

But some fear the ongoing armed conflict in eastern DR Congo between the army and several armed groups, most notably the M23 rebels, is not going to make this easy.

"The conflict is having a profound effect on the vaccination programme in general,” Dr Gaston Bulambo, head of North Kivu Provincial Health Division, told the BBC.

“It's not just vaccination against mpox, but all vaccination programmes are suffering because of difficulties in getting vaccines to health zones. This is due to the insecurity."

South Kivu’s governor, who hails from Lwiro himself, told the BBC the intense fighting was driving many from their homes to his province, which was exacerbating the spread of the disease.

“We are accommodating thousands of IDPs [internally displaced people], and still struggling with many issues,” Jean-Jacques Purusi Sadiki said.

“Most of the money is being injected in tackling the war which is going on, to buy military equipment, to feed the military,” he said.

“The country is losing a lot of money in trying to address this war, rather than injecting [this money] into social development including the health sector.”

However, the governor believed that the rebel groups would not disrupt vaccine deliveries as mpox was also affecting people in the areas they controlled.

He said the government was doing its best to get medics what they need: “In the next two days, I am going to Lwiro myself. I will deliver definitely what is available in terms of urgent assistance for the population, until the government in Kinshasa can offer more support.”

The authorities say vaccinations will begin in October, with children under the age of 17 as well as those who have been in close contact with infected patients first in line.

Governor Purusi Sadiki is convinced the outbreak in his province will be contained: “It’s a matter of political will. I am confident that we will succeed.”

It is a sentiment not yet shared by exhausted medics, like Dr Karanzo, at Lwiro hospital - but they are at least heartened that mpox awareness appears to be growing in their region.

People appear to be coming to the clinic as soon as they get symptoms rather than first going to traditional healers, which means the hospital is yet to experience an mpox fatality.

Yet with 5,049 confirmed cases since the start of the year in DR Congo, the clinic’s staff say speed is of the essence - only with a combination of vaccines, medicine and other supplies to allow for better hygiene, will the outbreak be curbed.

BBC
 
Pakistan’s fifth case of mpox virus has been confirmed in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Health Minister Qasim Ali Shah said in a video message on Wednesday

The mpox virus presents with flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. It is usually mild but can kill, and children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of complications.

“The fifth case, a 33-year-old patient, came to Pakistan from a Gulf country on September 7 via the Islamabad International Airport,” Shah said.

Shah added that the patient then went to Peshawar after his travels and stayed at a hotel. Following that, he went to a private clinic for treatment.

From there, the patient was referred to the Khyber Teaching Hospital, from where his samples were sent to a public health reference lab. The lab confirmed mpox virus in the patient.

“The patient has been quarantined at his house in Lower Dir,” Shah said, adding that he did not meet any relatives after arriving from Saudi Arabia, and other than the people on his flight, he was not in contact with anyone while arriving in Pakistan.

The surveillance of the patient is being done by the Lower Dir district health officer (DHO).

“The patient’s symptoms are improving; his family members have been made aware of the spread of infection,” Shah said.

“It is a shame that the mpox patient left the biggest airport without being screened,” Shah said. “There must be so many patients that leave the Islamabad airport every day and go elsewhere in the country”.

He called on the federation to take responsibility and activate its screening system. So far, more than 66,000 patients have been screened at KP entry points.

“Until now, five cases have been confirmed after the screening of 17 suspected patients,” Shah said.

On September 1, Pakistan’s fourth mpox case was confirmed, also from Peshawar. The first three cases of the virus were all found at the Peshawar airport.

On Sunday (September 8), all four patients in KP had recovered and were discharged from isolation after they tested negative for the zoonotic ailment.

Last month, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the recent outbreak of the disease as a public health emergency of international concern after the new variant of the virus, Clade 1b, was identified.

The Clade 1b variant has triggered global concern due to the ease with which it spreads through routine close contact.

However, the mpox outbreak is not another Covid-19, the WHO has said, because much is already known about the virus and the means to control it.

Source: Dawn News
 
Islamabad airport screening called into question after fifth mpox case

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa health minister expressed concerns over the effectiveness of the screening mechanisms in place at Islamabad airport, as the province confirmed its fifth mpox case on Wednesday.

The patient was a 33-year-old labourer who landed at the Islamabad airport on Sept 7, but was not spotted during the screening process, despite having symptoms, KP Health Minister Syed Qasim Ali Shah said.

“We urge the federal government to strengthen monitoring to save the population from being infected with the zoonotic infection,” the minister said.

In a video message released to media after the confirmation of the disease in a person belonging to Dir district, the minister said it was a matter of immense concern that people were not screened at the federal capital and this attitude could pose threats to the population.

The patient having skin lesion, fatigue, headache and rashes visited the Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, a day after his arrival. He was advised some tests by chairman of the dermatology department, Dr Mehran Khan. He was quarantined when mpox was confirmed by the public health reference lab.

The same dermatologist had suspected the first case of mpox in the province, which was confirmed on Aug 13.

The new case has raised serious concern over the screening process at the Islamabad airport, prompting the minister to call for corrective steps to protect public health.

While lamenting lack of adequate surveillance at the Islamabad airport, the minister said, “It is alarming that a patient with mpox left the country’s largest airport unchecked. How many such cases would have slipped and continue to escape screening on a daily basis and travelling to different parts of the country?

“How can the federal authorities be so negligent in the face of such a major outbreak?”

Minister Shah reminded the federal government that due to stringent surveillance and screening measures in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, no mpox case had gone undetected in the province.

The patient, who travelled from Islamabad, was diagnosed the next day, due to the province’s proactive approach, he added.

According to him, the federal government should take responsibility and implement a robust screening system at Islamabad airport to prevent the spread of the virus.

He elaborated that over 66,000 people had been screened at the Bacha Khan International Airport, Peshawar, and Pak-Afghan border at Torkham.

Out of the 17 suspected cases, five have been confirmed so far, he added.

The latest patient has been quarantined at home in Lower Dir, where he is under the surveillance with the supervision of district health officer, he said.

The minister assured that the patient had not met any relatives since arriving in Pakistan and had only been in contact with fellow passengers during the flight.

The patient’s condition is improving, and his family has been educated about preventing the spread of infection.

Speaking to Dawn, KP public health director Dr Irshad Roghani said surveillance system had further been strengthened and screening would continue in view of the threats posed by detection of cases in the province.

The official said they were also in touch with the airport staff to ensure that those coming into contact with the positive patients are screened and tested if required. He explained they were screening close relatives and contacts of those patients to ensure that the disease was not spread to the rest of the population.

“We have established isolation ward in Services Hospital, where patients were kept as part of protocol. The four [mpox] patients have already been allowed to go home after their tests emerged negative,” he said.

DAWN NEWS
 
Pakistan’s sixth case of mpox virus has been detected at the Islamabad International Airport, the health ministry confirmed on Monday

According to the health ministry spokesperson Sajid Shah, the 44-year-old patient had arrived from a Gulf country, and the Border Health Services (BHS) detected the virus while conducting screening at the airport.

The patient has been admitted to the isolation ward at PIMS hospital and is healthy, the spokesperson said.

Dr Mukhtar Bharath, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on National Health Services, said that BHS has screened 630,000 at the Islamabad airport.

“The Ministry of Health is ensuring the monitoring of this system,” Dr Bharath said, adding that effective measures were being taken to protect people.

The federal and provincial governments are taking all measures and tools to deal with mpox, he added.

On Wednesday, Pakistan’s fifth mpox case was confirmed in Peshawar. The 33-year-old patient had also arrived from a Gulf country at Islamabad International Airport before travelling to Peshawar.

The four mpox cases preceding this were all detected in Peshawar. On September 8, all four patients in KP had recovered and were discharged from isolation after they tested negative for the zoonotic ailment.

On Friday, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said that a total of 146,722 travellers were examined at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport in August.

On Saturday, two passengers suspected of having mpox landed at Jinnah International Airport and were taken to a hospital to keep them under observation.

Both passengers, one aged 44 and the other 32 had arrived from Saudi Arabia and were suspected of having the viral infection during screening at the airport.

One of them tested negative later in the day. The lab report of the other passenger, a resident of Karachi, was still awaited.

Last month, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the recent outbreak of the disease as a public health emergency of international concern after the new variant of the virus, Clade 1b, was identified.

The Clade 1b variant has triggered global concern due to the ease with which it spreads through routine close contact.

However, the mpox outbreak is not another Covid-19, the WHO has said, because much is already known about the virus and the means to control it.

Source: Dawn News
 
India confirms first mpox case in current outbreak

India has reported its first case with the new mpox strain that has triggered a public health emergency alert by the World Health Organization (WHO), Reuters reports.

Called clade 1b, the new variant is highly-transmissible and has been linked to the mpox outbreak in Africa.

According to media reports, the strain has been detected in a 38-year-old man from the southern state of Kerala who returned from Dubai recently.

Mpox, previously known as monkey pox, is a contagious virus that can cause painful skin lesions.

The WHO declared mpox, which used to be called monkeypox, a public health emergency in Africa in August.

Since then, the more dangerous variant of the virus has spread to countries outside the African continent, including Sweden, Thailand and Pakistan.

On Tuesday, Health Ministry spokesperson Manisha Verma confirmed to Reuters that the mpox case reported in Kerala's Malappuram district belonged to clade 1.

The patient is being treated in a hospital and the people he came in contact with are being traced and monitored, authorities said.

The district's health officer said that about 29 friends and family members of the patient along with 37 passengers on board his flight were being monitored but none of them had exhibited any symptoms so far, the news agency reported.

In the last two years, India has reported more that 30 mpox cases caused by the older clade 2 strain, which is considered to be less infectious.

Earlier this month, the mpox strain was detected in a man from northern Haryana state, who was admitted in hospital for a few days.

Mpox spreads from animals to humans and between people through close contact with someone who is infected - including through sex, skin-to-skin contact and talking or breathing close to another person.

It can cause symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes and lesions across the body. If left untreated, mpox can be deadly.

The federal government has issued an advisory to all states, asking them to be vigilant for potential mpox cases.

Around 35 laboratories across the country have been designated for testing suspected mpox cases.

BBC
 
WHO approves first mpox diagnostic test

The UN health agency said on Friday that it had approved the use of the first diagnostic test for mpox, a key tool in countries battling outbreaks.

More than 800 people have died across Africa from mpox, where the disease has been officially detected in 16 countries, according to the African Union’s disease control centre.

“The approval for emergency use” of the test “will be pivotal in expanding diagnostic capacity in countries facing mpox outbreaks, where the need for quick and accurate testing has risen sharply”, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said in a statement.

The test, called the Alinity m MPXV assay and manufactured by Abbott Molecular Inc, enables the detection of the mpox virus from swabs taken from human lesions.

“By detecting DNA from pustular or vesicular rash samples, laboratory and health workers can confirm suspected mpox cases efficiently and effectively,” the WHO said.

“Limited testing capacity and delays in confirming mpox cases persist in Africa, contributing to the continued spread of the virus,” it said.

The approval of the test “represents a significant milestone in expanding testing availability in affected countries”, the statement quoted Yukiko Nakatani, an assistant director-general of WHO, as saying.

“Increasing access to quality-assured medical products is central to our efforts in assisting countries to contain the spread of the virus and protect their people, especially in underserved regions,” Nakatani said.

Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is caused by a virus transmitted to humans by infected animals but can also be passed from human to human through close physical contact.

It causes fever, muscular aches and large boil-like skin lesions, and can be deadly.

DAWN NEWS
 
I have been recovering from a fever. Not sure if this was COVID or Monkeypox. LOL. Didn't test.

Anyway, I have almost recovered. Alhamdulillah.
 
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