Mpox cases reported in newborns for the first time in Pakistan

KARACHI: Infectious disease specialists have said that mpox cases are now being seen in newborns in Pakistan for the first time, describing the development as a serious public health concern and linking it to weak infection prevention measures in hospitals.

Speaking at a media roundtable at Aga Khan University Hospital on Wednesday, pediatric infectious disease specialist Dr Fatima Mir said cases had been reported from Khairpur in Sindh, where infants showed symptoms including fever, weakness and fluid-filled rashes. She added that some deaths had also been reported.

Dr Mir said mpox had previously been observed mainly in adults, and its emergence in children, especially newborns, was an alarming shift. "One of the major reasons for infection in newborns could be cross-infection in hospitals where proper hygiene and isolation protocols are not strictly followed," she said.

Experts at the session said the illness usually starts with fever, lethargy and weakness, followed by painful, fluid-filled lesions that can take between two and four weeks to heal. They stressed that suspected patients should be isolated immediately and reported to health authorities without delay.

They also said infected people should be kept apart at home, particularly in households where vulnerable individuals are present.

Infectious disease specialist Dr Faisal Mahmood said mpox is no longer confined to travellers arriving in Pakistan and is increasingly showing evidence of local spread.

According to him, 53 confirmed cases were reported in 2025, with most of them associated with international travel. However, he said the pattern appears to be changing in 2026. "In Karachi this year, one of the two confirmed cases was locally transmitted from Khairpur," he said.

Dr Mahmood also raised concern over infection control practices in some healthcare facilities. He referred to situations where several patients are placed on one bed or new patients are admitted without proper disinfection, saying such practices greatly increase the risk of transmission.

He said mpox can resemble chickenpox, but noted that mpox lesions generally appear at the same stage and are more painful.

Experts said the disease spreads through close physical contact, contaminated clothes or bedding, and prolonged exposure to respiratory droplets.

The warnings were issued as specialists called for stricter hygiene measures, proper isolation protocols and timely reporting to help contain the spread of the disease.