Health authorities confirm first mpox case in Pakistan's Sindh
KARACHI: Pakistan's southeastern province of Sindh on Saturday reported its first mpox case, with health authorities saying the patient, in his late 20s, had no recent travel history and was being kept in isolation at a local hospital.
Pakistan reported eight cases last year and five this year of mpox, which causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. Children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems face a higher risk of complications from the infection.
Mpox can spread through close contact with an infected person, such as skin-to-skin touching or cuts, sexual activity, mouth-to-mouth contact, or by breathing in infectious respiratory particles.
The Sindh health department's announcement highlighting the lack of travel history raises suspicion of a locally transmitted case.
'Saturday 22nd March 2025, the lab confirmed the first case of Monkeypox in Sindh,' Meeran Yousuf, the provincial health department spokesperson, said in a brief statement.
'The 29-year-old male, resident of District Malir, has no recent travel history,' he continued. 'His first symptom onset was on 15th March 2025. The patient is currently in isolation at a public hospital and contact tracing is currently being conducted by the health department.'
Last month, Pakistan reported two new mpox cases in the northwestern city of Peshawar, one of which was said to be the country's first locally transmitted case.
The World Health Organization declared a global health emergency in 2024 over the spread of a new, more dangerous mutated strain of mpox, named clade I. The strain first emerged in the Democratic Republic of Congo and spread to several countries, prompting increased monitoring and preventive measures worldwide.
Pakistan has so far not reported any cases of the new mutation.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Asharq Al-Awsat
2 days ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
China to Make All Hospitals Offer Epidurals to Incentivize Childbirth
China said that by the end of this year all tertiary level hospitals must offer epidural anesthesia during childbirth, a move it said would help promote a "friendly childbearing environment" for women. Tertiary hospitals - those with more than 500 beds, must provide epidural anesthesia services by 2025 while secondary hospitals - those containing more than 100 beds - must provide the services by 2027, China's National Health Commission (NHC) said in a statement last week. Authorities are struggling to boost birth rates in the world's second largest economy after China's population fell for a third consecutive year in 2024 with experts warning the downturn will worsen in the coming years. Around 30% of pregnant women in China receive anesthesia to relieve pain during childbirth, compared with more than 70% in some developed countries, the official China Daily said. The World Health Organization recommends epidurals for healthy pregnant women requesting pain relief and it is widely utilized in many countries around the world, including France, where around 82% of pregnant women opt to have one, and in the United States and Canada where more than 67% do. The move will "improve the comfort level and security of medical services" and "further enhance people's sense of happiness and promote a friendly childbearing environment," the NHC said. A growing number of provinces across China are also beginning to include childbirth anesthesia costs as part of their medical insurance schemes to encourage more women to have children, Reuters reported. High childcare costs as well as job uncertainty and a slowing economy have discouraged many young Chinese from getting married and starting a family. In June, health authorities in China's southwestern Sichuan province proposed to extend marriage leave up to 25 days and maternity leave up to 150 days, to help create a "fertility-friendly society."
Saudi Gazette
4 days ago
- Saudi Gazette
Measles holiday warning as cases rise in Europe
LONDON — Families traveling abroad this summer on holiday or to visit relatives are being warned about the rise in measles cases in Europe and other regions. Measles infections in Europe are at a 25-year high, while cases are also surging in countries such as Pakistan and Nigeria. Childhood vaccination rates in the UK that offer protection against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) are still a long way below the recommended 95% uptake, with the lowest regional rates found in London at just over 73% vaccinated. The UK Health Security Agency is warning holidaymakers to make sure they are up to date with their vaccinations and stress that it is never too late to get vaccinated. The UKHSA's latest data on measles infections shows that an outbreak is continuing in England. Some 109 cases were confirmed in April and 86 so far in May. These cases have mostly been in unvaccinated children aged 10 years and under. London has reported almost half of all cases in the past four weeks. Dr Vanessa Saliba, consultant epidemiologist at the UK Health Security Agency, says the rise in cases in England reflects what is happening abroad - and that's a concern as the summer holiday season gets going. "It's essential that everyone, particularly parents of young children, check all family members are up to date with two MMR doses, especially if you are traveling this summer for holidays or visiting family," Dr Saliba said. "Measles cases are picking up again in England and outbreaks are happening in Europe and many countries with close links to the UK." Measles spreads very easily and can be a nasty disease, leading to complications like ear and chest infections and inflammation of the brain with some children tragically ending up in hospital and suffering life-long consequences, Dr Saliba added. "Nobody wants this for their child and it's not something you want to experience when away on holiday." The decline in vaccination rates in the UK - particularly since the Covid pandemic - has been mirrored in other countries, especially in Europe. The World Health Organization and UNICEF reported 127,350 measles cases in the European Region in 2024 - double the number of cases reported during the previous year and the highest number since 1997. This year has seen outbreaks in several other European countries popular with UK holidaymakers, including France, Italy, Spain and Germany. The WHO has also reported that Romania, Pakistan, India, Thailand, Indonesia and Nigeria currently have among the largest number of measles cases worldwide. There has been a big push to improve MMR vaccination rates across the UK, but Dr Amanda Doyle, national director for primary care and community services at NHS England, says there is still a lot of work to do. "Too many babies and young children are still not protected against the diseases, which are contagious infections that spread very easily and can cause serious health problems. "MMR jabs are provided free as part of the NHS routine immunization program – and I would encourage all parents to act on invites or check vaccination records if they think they may have missed their child's vaccination." Health experts say that anyone, whatever their age, who has not had two doses of the MMR vaccine can contact their GP surgery to book an appointment and that it is never too late to catch up. Common symptoms include: high fever sore, red and watery eyes runny nose coughing sneezing Small white spots may appear inside the mouth. A blotchy red or brown rash usually appears after a few days, typically on the face and behind the ears, before spreading to the rest of the body. It can be harder to see on brown and black skin. Measles normally clears up within seven to 10 days. However, it can lead to pneumonia, meningitis, blindness and seizures. Babies and young children, pregnant women and those with a weakened immune system are at increased risk. Getting it while pregnant can lead to stillbirth, miscarriage or babies being born small. Measles can be fatal, but this is rare. — BBC
Arab News
6 days ago
- Arab News
Sudan's collapsing healthcare system a global emergency
Sudan is currently grappling with one of the worst humanitarian and public health crises in the world, as its healthcare system is collapsing under the weight of ongoing civil conflict. The war, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, has inflicted immense damage on the country's medical infrastructure. Over the past two years, the violence has destroyed more than 250 hospitals and healthcare facilities, either through direct bombardment or looting. At least 60 percent of pharmacies and medical warehouses have been looted, burned or rendered inoperable. Medical professionals have fled or been killed and those who remain are often targeted or are unable to safely reach their workplaces. Basic medical supplies, electricity, clean water and fuel are scarce or nonexistent in many parts of the country. The breakdown of health services has not only left millions without access to essential care but has also created ideal conditions for deadly disease outbreaks to spread unchecked. Amid this destruction, the World Health Organization and the UN have raised alarms about the spiraling health emergency. Sudan now faces simultaneous outbreaks of cholera, malaria, measles and dengue, diseases that are being exacerbated by the collapse of sanitation systems, unsafe water sources and overcrowded refugee camps. More than 20 million people — almost half the country's population — are in urgent need of medical care. Immunization campaigns have been halted and the absence of preventive medicine has led to the rapid reemergence of diseases once under control. The WHO has recorded at least 156 attacks on healthcare workers and facilities since the war began and these attacks continue to impede even the most basic humanitarian responses. The UN has called Sudan one of the world's largest and most-neglected emergencies, noting that more than 12.4 million people have been displaced and famine is either present or imminent in several areas. Children are especially vulnerable: millions face severe malnutrition, lack access to medical care and are increasingly at risk of exploitation, trafficking and death. If this crisis continues without immediate intervention, Sudan faces an impending humanitarian catastrophe that will have devastating consequences for its people for generations to come. The complete collapse of the healthcare system means that diseases will spread without resistance, maternal and infant mortality will surge and chronic illnesses will go untreated. With hospitals destroyed and doctors in hiding or exiled, even the simplest medical emergencies can become fatal. With hospitals destroyed and doctors in hiding or exiled, even the simplest medical emergencies can become fatal Dr. Majid Rafizadeh The loss of educational and training institutions also means that rebuilding the health sector will take decades, even under optimal conditions. Famine, disease and the psychological trauma of war are already corroding the foundations of society, deepening poverty and dismantling any remaining trust in institutions. If the fighting persists, the country could be left with an entire generation deprived not only of healthcare, but of security, education and hope. The consequences of the collapse of Sudan's healthcare system will not remain contained within its borders. The conflict has already displaced more than 3.3 million people into neighboring countries such as Chad, South Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia and the Central African Republic. These nations, already burdened with fragile health systems and limited resources, are now under immense strain as they attempt to care for large numbers of malnourished and sick refugees. Infectious diseases like cholera, which thrive in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, pose a serious threat to regional public health. The breakdown in immunization coverage could result in the cross-border spread of measles and polio, undermining years of health progress in the region. Moreover, the protracted instability in Sudan risks destabilizing the entire Horn of Africa, a region already vulnerable to political fragmentation, insurgency and environmental stress. The global implications of Sudan's health emergency are equally urgent. The ongoing collapse of Sudan's health system and the humanitarian vacuum it creates serve as a dire warning about the fragility of global health security. As we have seen with past pandemics and regional crises, diseases that emerge or expand in one part of the world can quickly spread beyond borders, especially when response efforts are delayed or under-resourced. Moreover, the normalization of attacks on healthcare workers and facilities during armed conflict threatens the sanctity of international humanitarian law. If such violations continue with impunity in Sudan, they could set a precedent for future conflicts, eroding the principles that protect civilians and aid workers globally. The lack of a coordinated international response not only reflects a failure of political will, it also undermines collective commitments to global health and human rights. What is urgently needed is a decisive, coordinated and sustained international response. The first and most pressing step is the implementation of an immediate ceasefire. This would allow for the safe establishment of humanitarian and health corridors — zones where aid organizations can deliver medical supplies, provide vaccinations and treat the wounded without threat of violence. These corridors are essential for saving lives in the short term, especially in regions that have been cut off from aid for months. The UN, the WHO, Doctors Without Borders and other agencies require not only funding but also guaranteed security to operate effectively. Immediate airlifts of medicine, surgical equipment, vaccines and food must be prioritized. Equally important is the political pressure on both warring factions to cease attacks on healthcare infrastructure, in accordance with international humanitarian law. Beyond these urgent interventions, the international community must work in collaboration with the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and key regional actors to forge a pathway toward a permanent ceasefire and political resolution. This includes building upon the Jeddah Declaration, which was signed in May 2023 under the auspices of the US and Saudi Arabia. The declaration outlined commitments by both warring parties to protect civilians, allow humanitarian access and refrain from targeting civilian infrastructure. Though the declaration has largely been violated, it remains one of the few frameworks for negotiation that has gained international recognition. Revitalizing the Jeddah process, expanding the number of mediating parties and ensuring local community representation are vital steps toward lasting peace. Without a stable political solution, humanitarian aid alone will never be sufficient. In conclusion, Sudan's health crisis has reached a catastrophic stage and the situation demands the world's immediate and undivided attention. The country's healthcare system is not merely under stress — it is actively disintegrating. Millions are at risk of dying not only from bullets and bombs but from preventable diseases and starvation. The consequences of inaction will reverberate far beyond Sudan's borders, threatening regional health, stability and security. The international community must act now — decisively and urgently — to implement a ceasefire, open health corridors and reengage in meaningful diplomacy. Failure to do so will not only doom millions in Sudan but will mark yet another tragic instance of global neglect in the face of a preventable disaster. • Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a Harvard-educated Iranian American political scientist. X: @Dr_Rafizadeh
