Health officials are sounding the alarm as Mpox appears to have begun spreading locally within Pakistan, marking a critical shift from previously imported cases and elevating it to an immediate public health threat.
According to a report by AKU today, at a media briefing on Wednesday, infectious disease specialists from the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) detailed the evolving situation. While Pakistan documented 53 confirmed cases in 2025, largely linked to international travel, a case in Karachi this year points towards local transmission. Furthermore, an active outbreak in Khairpur suggests the virus has infiltrated healthcare settings, exposing significant gaps in infection control outside major cities.
‘We are at a moment where awareness can make the difference between containment and spread. People including physicians need to know the signs, act early, and not wait,’ stated Dr Faisal Mahmood, a Professor of Infectious Diseases at the Aga Khan University Hospital.
Mpox is primarily transmitted through close, skin-to-skin physical contact and through touching contaminated items like bedding or clothing. While not considered an airborne virus, it can also spread via respiratory droplets during prolonged close encounters and, in some instances, from mother to child during pregnancy or childbirth.
The tell-tale symptoms of the virus typically include a fever, swollen lymph nodes, and a distinctive rash or lesions. These may manifest on the face, the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and the genital area.
Dr Fatima Mir, a Professor of Paediatric Infectious Diseases at AKUH, stressed the preventable nature of its spread. ‘Ignoring symptoms, delaying isolation, and poor infection prevention and control practices in healthcare facilities can lead to uncontrolled cross infection. All of this is avoidable,’ she warned.
For most individuals with a robust immune system, a full recovery is expected within two to four weeks. However, the risk of severe illness is significantly higher for newborns, pregnant women, and immunocompromised people.
The AKUH specialists issued an urgent appeal for anyone developing symptoms consistent with Mpox to isolate themselves immediately and seek medical advice. Individuals who have been in contact with a confirmed case are advised to monitor for symptoms for a period of 21 days.
Medical centres and hospitals are strongly urged to reinforce their infection prevention protocols without delay, with a particular focus on neonatal and maternity wards, to prevent further spread within clinical environments.