Pakistan puts airports on alert as WHO declares Mpox variant global emergency

People gather to receive arriving passengers at the international arrival area of the Islamabad International Airport in Islamabad, Pakistan on February 3, 2020. (AFP/File)

• Health ministry says the decision is a precautionary step as Pakistan has not reported a new Mpox case
• The viral disease was declared global emergency following its new variant’s spread in African countries

ISLAMABAD: The government on Wednesday directed airports across Pakistan to stay alert against Mpox, a viral disease characterized by fever, swollen lymph nodes and a distinctive rash, as the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the spread of its new variant in Congo and African countries as global emergency.
The Mpox virus is primarily found in Central and West Africa, where it is transmitted from animals, such as rodents and primates, to humans. Human-to-human transmission can occur through direct contact with body fluids, respiratory droplets or contaminated materials like bedding.
According to a statement released by the health ministry in Islamabad, Pakistani authorities decided to take the precautionary measures under the circumstances, though no cases of the new Mpox variant have been reported in the country.
“The World Health Organization has declared Mpox a global emergency,” Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Bharath, the prime minister’s health coordinator, was quoted as saying in the statement. “The Border Health Services of Pakistan has been put on high alert. The screening system at entry points across the country is being further strengthened.”
“We are ensuring the implementation of International Health Regulations and taking all necessary steps to protect the public from epidemics,” he continued.
The prime minister’s health coordinator said the ministry was prepared to deal with any unforeseen situation.
“National and provincial public health laboratories are well-prepared to confirm Mpox virus cases,” he added. “Epidemics have no borders. Federal hospitals have been instructed to take precautionary measures.”
The official statement said more than 17,000 suspected Mpox cases have been reported in African states during this year until now. These cases have been spread across 13 countries, causing a total number of 517 deaths.
Pakistan has held the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) meeting to evaluate the situation and take precautionary steps.
The NCOC was established in March 2020 and worked as the principal body to coordinate and implement the country’s national response to the COVID-19 by collecting, analyzing and disseminating data.
It also coordinated efforts between federal and provincial governments and made critical decisions regarding health measures, lockdowns, vaccination campaigns and public communication.