ISLAMABAD: A 42-year-old man, who had recently arrived from a Gulf country and was suffering from Mpox, slipped away from Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) and was later found at his home in Attock.

The patient has now been admitted to the District Headquarters Hospital, Hazro.

Since the patient had spent sufficient time at his home, all his family members have now been put under observation at their house, and contact tracing has been done for some passengers and airline crew members who were in close proximity to the patient.

Chief of the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) at the National Institute of Health (NIH) Dr Mumtaz Ali Khan confirmed that the patient’s sample had tested positive for Mpox.

Sources said the patient had been isolated at the airport soon after his arrival on August 15 due to symptoms of Mpox and was shifted to Pims late at night. They said while the casualty medical officer was busy in making arrangements to shift the patient to an isolation ward, he managed to escape from the hospital.

According to Dr Mumtaz, after slipping of the patient from Pims, his address was traced and health officials in Attock were directed to trace the person, isolate him and send the his sample to the NIH for test.

He said the patient used to work as a labourer in the Gulf country and confirmed that he was tested for the Mpox there.

Mpox is a rare viral zoonotic disease caused by infection with Mpox virus.

It spreads through close contact and can cause flu-like symptoms and pus-filled skin lesions. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared Mpox global health emergency in July 2022.

Although natural reservoirs of Mpox remain unknown, however, Mpox transmission occurs through contact with infected animals, humans, or contaminated materials

The virus enters the body through broken skin (even if not visible), respiratory tract, or the mucous membranes (eyes, nose, or mouth). Other human-to-human methods of transmission include direct or indirect contact with body fluids, lesion material or through contaminated clothing or linens.

Case management of a confirmed Mpox patient involves several steps to ensure proper treatment and prevent the spread of the virus, including isolation. The patient should be isolated in a single room with a private bathroom and provided with appropriate personal protective equipment to prevent transmission of the virus to healthcare workers and other patients.

Treatment for Mpox is primarily supportive and symptomatic. Patients should be given antipyretics for fever, analgesics for pain relief, and fluids to maintain hydration. There is no specific antiviral treatment for Mpox, but some antiviral medications have shown efficacy in treating severe cases.

The Mpox virus was discovered in Denmark in 1958 in monkeys. The first human case of Mpox was reported in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Since then, cases reported in other central and western African countries, including Cameroon, Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Gabon, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, and Sierra Leone.

The NIH has issued an advisory on Mpox, highlighting the importance of awareness and precautions to prevent the spread of the disease. The health authorities are taking measures to contain the spread of Mpox, and the public is advised to remain vigilant and follow guidelines to prevent infection.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2025