Hyderabad: Health authorities in Sindh have confirmed second case of Mpox (monkeypox) in a 28-year-old man with health officials reporting that most of his lesions were concentrated in the genital area, a pattern that global health experts say has been consistently observed in the majority of cases worldwide.
According to the Sindh health department, the patient, who returned from Dubai earlier this month, first developed symptoms on September 15 and presented at a private healthcare facility in Hyderabad.
He had widespread vascular lesions on the face, extremities, throat, and anal region, but the highest concentration of lesions was noted in the genital area.
A clinical sample was collected for laboratory confirmation, and the District Health Office (DHO) Hyderabad launched an urgent field investigation on September 30. Officials said contact tracing was immediately initiated, and all identified contacts are being closely monitored.
“This case underscores the well-established epidemiological pattern that Mpox is being detected most frequently among individuals engaging in same-sex sexual activity,” a senior Sindh health department official told The News. “But it is important to stress that the infection is not confined to any one group and can spread through close physical contact.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) has already described Mpox as a disease that, during the 2022–23 global outbreak, disproportionately affected networks of men who have sex with men, although it emphasized that anyone in close contact with an infectious person can contract the virus.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral infection caused by the monkeypox virus, part of the orthopoxvirus family. It spreads through direct skin-to-skin contact, respiratory droplets, and intimate relations. The illness typically presents with fever, swollen lymph nodes, and distinctive lesions, and while most patients recover, severe disease can occur in those with weakened immunity.
Pakistan reported its first-ever confirmed case of Mpox in Islamabad in May 2023, with sporadic cases detected since then. Sindh confirmed its first case earlier this year, making the Hyderabad patient the second in the province.
Public health experts warned that while the current risk of a large-scale outbreak in Pakistan is relatively low, the combination of international travel, limited diagnostic capacity, and poor awareness could allow undetected transmission chains. They urged stronger screening at entry points, enhanced laboratory testing, and culturally sensitive public health messaging to prevent stigma.
“Linking Mpox exclusively with one community fuels stigma and discourages people from coming forward for testing or treatment,” an NIH virologist said. “Pakistan’s priority should be early detection, transparent reporting, and ensuring patients are managed in isolation with full confidentiality.”
For now, the Hyderabad patient remains under treatment, and health authorities said no secondary cases have been found among his close contacts. Officials stressed that continued vigilance is essential to prevent wider spread.
Ends