Health authorities have directed all public and private hospitals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to stay alert for possible Mpox cases after more than two dozen infections were recorded in the province over the past year. The advisory was issued following a rise in suspected cases being referred to hospitals and confirmed through provincial surveillance and diagnostic systems.
Officials reported that 26 patients have been identified so far, including 18 men and six women. Health experts said the initial infections were mostly linked to travelers returning from Gulf countries who had tested positive for mpox and were later deported to Pakistan. However, authorities now believe some recent infections may have resulted from local transmission within the country.
Investigations suggest that a number of cases could also be connected to the spread of the disease from Punjab, where the number of infections increased significantly last year. While Punjab initially reported no mpox cases, officials later confirmed more than 25 infections by the end of the year. Health experts believe the rise in Punjab may have contributed to the growing number of cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Hospitals have been instructed to immediately isolate suspected patients and strictly follow infection prevention and control protocols while laboratory results are pending. Doctors have also been advised to consider mpox as a possible diagnosis in patients showing symptoms such as skin rashes, fever, body pain, and swollen lymph nodes, particularly if they have had close contact with a suspected or confirmed case.
Authorities have asked dermatology departments, pediatric units, sexual health clinics, and emergency departments to remain especially vigilant, as these units are often the first to detect suspected cases. Health facilities have also been directed to collect lesion swab samples according to national guidelines and send them to the Public Health Reference Laboratory for confirmation through PCR testing.
Officials said hospitals must follow the guidelines issued by the National Institute of Health in Islamabad regarding case identification, testing procedures, and outbreak response. According to health authorities, the number of mpox cases increased in 2025 compared with 2024, and additional infections have already been reported in early 2026.
Experts warn that the recent rise in cases, along with the absence of travel history in several patients, indicates possible community transmission. They cautioned that without stronger surveillance and control measures, mpox could eventually become endemic in the region.
Also Read: Mpox Still a Public Health Emergency: WHO
