The first case of Monkeypox has been reported in Pakistan. According to the details, the Monkeypox case has been confirmed in a person who arrived from Saudi Arabia on April 17, 2023.
Based on reports, the person already had symptoms of Monkeypox on arrival and his samples were sent to the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Islamabad, which confirmed the infection.
The person affected by Monkeypox is a resident of the Twin Cities and his relatives are now being screened for the infection as well.
After confirmation of the first case of Monkeypox in Pakistan, the airports across the country have been put on high alert. Passengers coming into the country will be screened and suspected passengers will be taken to hospital for isolation.
The Director General Health Services Sindh has also sent a letter to the management of all government hospitals to establish isolation areas with 5 to 10 rooms.
What is Monkeypox?
Monkeypox is a virus that spreads from animals, including rats and primates, to humans in exceptional cases. The infectious disease is an endemic in Central and West Africa, where the majority of cases have occurred. The virus was first discovered in 1958 after outbreak of “pox-like” disease in laboratory monkeys, which gives it the name Monkeypox.
Symptoms and Treatment
The symptoms of Monkeypox include fever, body pains, chills, and exhaustion, while people with severe illness can develop rashes and sores on the face and hands that can spread to other parts of the body. The disease is a component of the same viral family as smallpox.
The quarantine period of the virus usually lasts between five days and three weeks, while majority of people recover within two to four weeks without hospitalization. However, one in ten persons can die from Monkeypox, and the disease is said to be severe in young people.
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