Khyber Pakhtunkhwa confirms second Mpox case of 2025

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has reported its second Mpox (Monkeypox) case of 2025, bringing the province's cumulative total to 11 cases since 2022. Health Advisor Ihtesham Ali confirmed that the latest case was identified at Bacha Khan International Airport. The Public Health Reference Lab diagnosed a five-month-old baby girl, who arrived from Qatar with her parents, as positive for Mpox. Following this confirmation, the health department has initiated diagnostic tests on her parents to assess potential transmission.

This case follows the first Mpox diagnosis of 2025 in Pakistan, reported on January 24. In that instance, a passenger traveling from Dubai tested positive upon arrival at Peshawar Airport and was subsequently admitted to Services Hospital Peshawar for treatment.

In 2024, Pakistan documented several Mpox cases, primarily among travelers returning from the Middle East. Notably, in August 2024, the country reported its first case of the year involving a resident of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa who had recently traveled to Saudi Arabia. By September 2024, Peshawar had emerged as a focal point for Mpox cases in Pakistan, with multiple detections at Bacha Khan International Airport. 

Health authorities are intensifying surveillance and preventive measures to curb the spread of the virus. Travelers are urged to adhere to health advisories and report any symptoms promptly.