Second suspected locally transmitted mpox case reported in Karachi

KARACHI: A growing public health concern is emerging in Karachi as authorities grapple with a suspected local spread of mpox alongside the city’s first dengue-related death of the season, raising alarm among health officials.

According to the Sindh health department, the dengue victim belonged to the city’s East district, while a 20-year-old student from Buffer Zone has been identified as the second suspected locally transmitted mpox case in Karachi. He is currently under treatment at the Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital and Research Centre (SIDH&RC).

“He is stable and has no travel history,” said Dr Abdul Wahid Rajput, confirming concerns that the infection may have originated within the city.

This marks the second mpox case reported in Karachi, with the first detected last month at the same facility. That patient has since recovered and been discharged. Health officials say the emergence of another case without travel history strengthens the likelihood of local transmission.

A specialised team, led by focal person Dr Shankar, has been formed to investigate the case. Authorities have traced and are monitoring all close contacts of the patient, none of whom have shown symptoms so far.

Concerns over the situation had already been raised a day earlier at a medical roundtable held at Aga Khan University Hospital, where experts warned that one of the confirmed mpox cases this year pointed to local transmission. They termed mpox an “immediate health concern” and called for strict infection control protocols in healthcare settings, along with greater public awareness about transmission risks.

The situation has been further complicated by an ongoing outbreak in Khairpur, where at least nine children were infected at neonatal units in two hospitals. Authorities have since sealed the affected units after identifying what officials described as “critical lapses” in infection control practices.

Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho said a total of 14 mpox cases have been confirmed across the province this year — 12 in Khairpur and two in Karachi. She added that five of the nine affected children in Khairpur had died, clarifying that mpox was not the direct cause of death but that the children were already weak and malnourished.

Urging caution, the minister advised citizens to seek immediate medical attention if they develop symptoms such as body rashes or pimples resembling measles. She stressed that suspected patients should remain in hospital for testing and isolation to prevent further spread.

Isolation wards have been established at district hospitals across Sindh, with healthcare providers directed to strictly follow personal protective protocols. Mpox testing is currently being conducted free of charge at Aga Khan University Hospital and the Dow University of Health Sciences, with patients required to stay under observation for at least a day.

Officials said patients who test positive must remain hospitalised until full recovery, which typically takes between three to four weeks. They warned that leaving hospital prematurely could lead to further transmission within households, advising families not to share personal items such as bedding, towels, or clothing with infected individuals.

While acknowledging public concern, the health minister sought to reassure citizens, stating that the Khairpur cases remain contained within the district and that efforts are underway to prevent the virus from spreading to other cities.