Three patients with the monkeypox virus have been identified in Pakistan , on their arrival from the United Arab Emirates, the health department in northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has confirmed. It is not clear yet which variant was detected in the patients. All the three patients have been quarantined.
Symptoms seen in the patients The 34-year-old male resident of Mardan arrived in Pakistan on August 3 and developed symptoms shortly after arriving in Peshawar and reached out to the hospital for testing. Monkeypox typically begins with flu-like symptoms, including fever, headache, muscle aches, and backache. This is followed by swollen lymph nodes, which is a distinctive feature of the disease, and general exhaustion.
After a few days, a rash develops, starting on the face and spreading to other parts of the body. The rash progresses from flat spots to raised bumps and then to fluid-filled pustules that eventually crust over and fall off. The disease's progression often resembles that of smallpox but is usually milder.
Severe cases can lead to complications, including secondary bacterial infections and, rarely, death. In Pakistan, 11 cases have been reported since April 2023, with one resulting in death. Monkeypox is a global threat: WHO The World Health Organization has declared the recent outbreak of the disease as a public health emergency of international concern after a new variant of the virus has been identified.
Its transmission can occur between humans through c.