Pakistan admits it cannot find mpox patient as tighter screening to be introduced at airports
The IndependentFor free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Pakistan says it is introducing new screening at airports after confirming at least one case of mpox infection, days after the World Health Organisation declared a global emergency over the virus. Over 17,000 mpox cases have been confirmed in Africa with more than 500 deaths this year alone, mainly among children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since the outbreak began at the start of 2023. open image in gallery A health worker takes a sample at the mpox treatment centre of the Nyiragongo general referral hospital, north of the town of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo, on 16 August 2024 Pakistan’s health department confirmed that one case of mpox was detected in the country’s northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, withdrawing a previous statement that three cases of the viral infection were detected in the region this week on arrival from the UAE. Mpox declared a global health emergency by WHO “We approached our fellow colleagues of the health department in Dir district but they couldn’t trace him, even in Dir,” the DHO said. Pakistan said on 16 August it had confirmed a case of mpox “It is concerning for two main reasons,” according to pox researcher Jonas Albarnaz from the Pirbright Institute.