Monkeypox cases rise in Sindh as Karachi reports second infection

KARACHI: Sindh has reported 14 monkeypox infections so far this year, including 12 cases in Khairpur and two in Karachi, while five deaths have also been recorded, according to details shared in the report. The increase in cases has raised concern among health authorities, who have introduced emergency steps across the province.

The second case in Karachi was recently confirmed in a 22-year-old man from the Buffer Zone area. He was admitted to the Infectious Diseases Hospital at Nipa, where hospital officials said he had no travel history. The patient has been placed in isolation and is being closely monitored.

Earlier this year, Karachi had also recorded another monkeypox case involving a 31-year-old person who had returned from abroad.

Sindh Health Minister Azra Pechuho said emergency arrangements had been put in place to contain the virus. Under these measures, isolation units have been set up in major government hospitals, while doctors and nurses have been supplied with protective gear, including gowns, gloves and masks.

Monkeypox spreads mainly through direct skin-to-skin contact, as well as through exposure to infected lesions or bodily fluids. The health minister urged people not to touch suspected patients or use their personal belongings, and advised that clothes and bedding should be washed in hot water.

Testing of suspected cases is being carried out at laboratories of Dow University of Health Sciences and Aga Khan Hospital. Test results are available within 24 hours, and confirmed patients are kept in isolation to reduce the risk of further transmission.

Although monkeypox is generally not considered fatal, complications can develop in people with weakened immunity. Newborns have accounted for several of the deaths reported in the province.

Symptoms and precautions

Early signs of the disease include fever, cold, sore throat and rash. These symptoms may later develop into pus-filled lesions. Health experts have warned that the virus is highly contagious through skin-to-skin contact and can affect people of all ages.

Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation and have stressed the importance of precautionary measures to limit the spread of infection.

The latest figures indicate that Khairpur remains the most affected district in Sindh, while Karachi has now reported two cases this year. Health officials are maintaining surveillance as the province responds to the outbreak.