Sukkur: Authorities in Sukkur division have ordered emergency measures, including establishment of control rooms and deployment of special response teams, after seven newborn children died in Khairpur, with at least four of them testing positive for Mpox, officials said on Saturday.
The decisions were taken at a high level meeting chaired by Sukkur Commissioner Abid Saleem Qureshi, attended by deputy commissioners, district health officers, representatives of World Health Organization, PPHI, EPI, CDC, livestock department and pediatric experts.
Officials said the emergency response was triggered after confirmation of Mpox cases among newborns and multiple child deaths in Khairpur, where laboratory testing by Dow University of Health Sciences and Aga Khan University established the presence of the virus in affected infants.
According to the Sindh health department, four of the seven deceased children had tested positive for Mpox, although a clinical review concluded that the deaths were primarily linked to complications such as prematurity, low birth weight and malnutrition rather than the virus itself.
The outbreak was first detected on March 14, when unusual skin lesions were reported among newborns in Khairpur, with subsequent testing confirming Mpox infection and indicating a wider spread among neonates.
Investigations by health authorities have pointed to serious lapses in infection prevention and control at healthcare facilities as a likely source of transmission, with a private pediatric centre and the neonatal intensive care unit at Khairpur Medical College suspected to be key sites of spread.
Following these findings, authorities temporarily closed affected neonatal units, carried out disinfection and enforced strict infection control protocols across hospitals in Khairpur and Sukkur.
The meeting decided to establish control rooms in all districts, ensure daily reporting of cases and enforce strict monitoring of public and private hospitals, clinics and maternity homes.
The commissioner directed authorities to train healthcare staff, establish isolation wards for suspected patients and improve treatment facilities, while ordering strict implementation of infection prevention and control measures.
In Khairpur, intensified contact tracing, sampling and fumigation campaigns have been launched in affected areas, while spray drives will also be carried out in Sukkur and Ghotki districts.
The livestock department has been tasked with vaccination and surveillance of animals to rule out any additional transmission risks.
Officials also decided to enhance laboratory capacity, expand PCR testing and deploy rapid response teams, along with launching public awareness campaigns, including outreach in schools, and strengthening data management systems.
Commissioner Qureshi directed all departments to treat the situation as an emergency and ensure immediate, coordinated and effective action, warning that any negligence or delay would not be tolerated.
While provincial authorities maintain that the situation is under control, concerns persist among federal health officials over gaps in reporting and coordination, with experts warning that healthcare associated transmission of Mpox highlights serious weaknesses in infection control practices that require urgent systemic reforms.
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