Islamabad: Mpox infections appear to be increasing in Karachi, with health authorities reporting another confirmed case on Sunday, bringing the total number of cases recorded in the city to 11.
Officials of the Sindh Health Department said a 35-year-old resident of Mohabbat Nagar in Karachi’s Landhi area tested positive for the virus and was admitted to the isolation ward of the Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital and Research Centre (SIDHRC) in NIPA.
According to hospital officials, the patient sought treatment at the facility on Saturday and was subsequently tested for the disease. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing confirmed the presence of the mpox virus.
Health authorities said the patient had no recent travel history, indicating that the infection may have been acquired locally, a development that could raise concerns about ongoing community transmission in the country’s largest city.
With the latest detection, the number of mpox cases reported at the Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital has reached eight, while the total number of confirmed cases recorded in Karachi has climbed to 11.
Public health experts have repeatedly stressed the importance of early detection, isolation of infected individuals, contact tracing and public awareness to prevent further spread of the disease.
The latest case comes amid concerns among health officials over sporadic locally acquired infections in Karachi, where authorities continue surveillance and monitoring efforts to identify additional cases and their contacts.