ISLAMABAD: The government of Pakistan has started taking measures to mitigate the threat of Monkeypox
Monkeypox disease in Pakistan
The federal government issued specific instructions to all national and provincial health officials to remain on high alert for any suspected cases of Monkeypox. This viral disease has been spreading around Europe and other regions in recent days.
According to a source, the Ministry of National Health Services is actively monitoring the situation and has dispelled social media rumors about reported cases of Monkeypox in Pakistan.
Previously, the NIH acknowledged that social media reports of the disease's prevalence in the country were "incorrect."
In addition, national and provincial health officials were urged to keep attentive to any suspected cases.
Moreover, Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel announced a week ago that the government had ordered testing kits to identify the viral sickness.
What exactly is Monkeypox?
According to an NIH advisory, Monkeypox is an uncommon viral zoonotic illness caused by infection with the monkeypox virus.
Even though the natural reservoir of Monkeypox is unknown, African rodents and non-human primates such as monkeys may harbor the virus and transmit it to humans.
According to the advisory, the disease could be transferred by contact with diseased animals, humans, or contaminated objects.
The virus enters the human body via broken skin, the respiratory system, or mucous membranes such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.
Within one to three days of the onset of fever, the patient develops a rash, which usually onset on the face and then spreads to the rest of the body.
Also present are headaches, muscle pains, fatigue, and lymphadenopathy.
The incubation time is typically between seven and fourteen days but can range from five to twenty-one. Typically, the disease lasts between two and four weeks.
According to the World Health Organization, some nations have begun immunizing teams treating monkeypox patients with smallpox vaccines, a similar virus.
There is no specific therapy for Monkeypox. However, it has been established that immunization against smallpox is 85 percent effective in avoiding the disease.