Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday instructed authorities to maintain strict vigilance against the spread of Monkeypox (mpox) after the World Health Organisation declared its outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.
During a high-level meeting on the measures being taken to curb the spread of the mpox virus, the prime minister emphasised the need for effective screening at airports, seaports, and borders. He also directed border health services to keep the situation under close surveillance.
PM Sharif instructed the National Command and Operations Center to remain alert, conduct daily evaluations of the situation, and ensure the availability of necessary equipment and testing kits for detecting the mpox virus.
The meeting was attended by key officials, including PM’s Coordinator on National Health Dr Malik Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath, Federal Secretary for National Health Nadeem Mehboob, and Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority Lt-Gen Inam Haider Malik, along with other senior officials.
The prime minister called for enhanced coordination between the provincial governments and the governments of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. He stressed the importance of launching a comprehensive awareness campaign and indicated that he would receive weekly briefings on the mpox situation.
Officials informed the meeting that a case of mpox had been detected in Mardan district. The patient, who had recently returned to Pakistan from abroad, was quarantined and reported to be in stable condition.
The meeting was assured that no local transmission of mpox had been detected in Pakistan. Following the WHO’s declaration on August 14, the NCOC issued a national advisory, and necessary instructions were disseminated.
Federal and provincial governments have initiated awareness campaigns, and the Civil Aviation Authority is overseeing flights arriving from abroad. Isolation wards and beds have been allocated in major hospitals by the provincial governments, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and the Islamabad Capital Territory administration in preparation for potential mpox cases. All precautionary measures are currently in place, the meeting was told.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister’s Coordinator for Health, Dr Malik Mukhtar Ahmad, has announced that the government has developed a comprehensive strategy to protect the public from the monkeypox virus.
Speaking at a press conference, Dr Ahmad assured the public that there is no need for alarm, as only one case of mpox has been reported in Pakistan so far.
He outlined that surveillance and screening measures have been implemented at all airports and entry points across the country to monitor potential cases. Dr Ahmad stated that laboratories in the provinces, including the federal capital, have been designated for the diagnosis of mpox.
He added that individuals arriving from Africa, America, and Gulf countries, where mpox cases have been reported, will be closely monitored.
