PESHAWAR, Aug 19 (APP):Genetic sequencing of Mpox virus, infecting a patient in Mardan District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has been detected as `Clade 2B’ strain, a type originated from West Africa and spread throughout the world in 2022.
This was stated by Director Public Health KP, Dr. Irshad Roghani while briefing a meeting of Provincial Outbreak Committee held on Monday with Provincial Minister for Health, Syed Qasim Ali Shah in the chair.
All three confirmed Mpox cases in the province reported during the last couple of years have travel histories linked to foreign countries.
The meeting was also attended by Director General Health Dr. Muhammad Saleem, Additional Director General Administration Dr. Siraj, Border Health Services Representative at Bacha Khan International Airport Dr. Fareez Uddin, Chief HSRU Dr. Iftikhar Khalil, Director EPI Dr. Arif, MS Police Services Hospital Dr. Niaz, WHO Khyber Pakhtunkhwa representative Dr. Babar, and other relevant officials attended the meeting.
The meeting participants were informed that the first case of Mpox was reported in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Before 2022, outbreaks were limited to Central and West Africa. As of now, 3,527 cases have been reported in Asia.
About the preventive measures, Dr. Irshad shared a Provincial Control Room has been established within the Directorate General of Health Services, and rapid response teams have been activated. District Outbreak Committees are also setting up control rooms at the district level.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Syed Qasim Ali Shah appealed to the public to maintain social distancing and exercise caution during social interactions.
He urged the media to support the Department of Health in raising awareness about Mpox to inform and protect the public. Rapid response teams have been formed, and isolation wards are being set up across districts.
The minister also mentioned that the recent Mpox patient had an accident in a foreign country on August 3, returned to Pakistan on August 10, and visited Khyber Teaching Hospital’s OPD for treatment of a broken leg. Upon noticing skin conditions and symptoms, the hospital isolated the patient and sent samples to the Public Health Reference Laboratory.
Health Minister Qasim Ali Shah was briefed that advisories, guidelines, and case management protocols are being regularly issued to all healthcare staff across the province.
Screening areas and staffing have been established at Bacha Khan International Airport and Torkham border. Isolation wards are being set up in district-level DHQ hospitals, while private hospitals have been notified through the Healthcare Commission.
In response to the current case, an isolation ward has also been established at MTI Mardan. Screening of passengers is ongoing at Bacha Khan International Airport, where more than 10,000 passengers from 83 flights have been screened for Mpox symptoms. Additionally, over 5,000 passengers crossing the Torkham border have been screened.
The meeting also discussed Mpox symptoms for suspected cases with district formations and medical officers.
OPD staff were briefed on case definitions and diagnostic protocols. The Health Minister directed the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) system to remain active, and the committee was briefed on contact tracing methods for affected patients.
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