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.
