MPOX TRACKER

Health authorities in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, have confirmed five cases of mpox in the province this year, including the first locally transmitted case. A woman from Dogra, Khyber district, was initially suspected of contracting the virus through local spread. However, further investigation revealed that she had contracted the virus from her husband, who had recently returned from a Gulf country. All close contacts, including her six children and two cousins, were screened, with no additional cases detected.

In contrast, a 20-year-old man from Peshawar, who had no travel history, represents the province’s first confirmed case of local transmission. Health officials have begun tracing and screening his relatives and close contacts to assess the extent of community spread. Additionally, two other mpox cases—a 42-year-old man and another 20-year-old—were confirmed on March 6, bringing the total number of cases in the province to five. The 42-year-old had returned from Saudi Arabia last year, while the younger patient is classified as locally transmitted.

The Health Department and local officials have placed infected individuals under home isolation, with no symptoms reported among their family members. However, concerns about community spread remain, prompting officials to intensify surveillance and screening efforts.

With growing mpox cases and evidence of local transmission, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Health Department faces increasing pressure to contain the outbreak. The importance of active surveillance, timely isolation, and widespread screening is crucial to preventing further spread in the region.