KP reports 8th Mpox case of 2025

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa health department has detected a new mpox case in Khyber tribal district, taking the total number of patients infected with zoonotic ailment in the province this year to eight.

The patient, a 31-year-old man, was screened at Bacha Khan International Airport when departing for Dubai. Doctors suspected him based on symptoms and collected a sample, which was later confirmed to be positive for mpox at the Public Health Reference Laboratory in Peshawar.

This is the latest in a series of cases that have been reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, bringing the total to 17 cases over the past three years. Previous cases were linked to travelers returning from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia, where the virus is endemic.

Following the confirmation of the case, the local health department immediately took action, isolating the patient at Services Hospital in Peshawar to prevent the spread of the virus. Contact tracing and surveillance measures have been initiated in Khyber district.

Health officials emphasized the importance of early detection and isolation. They have urged the public to stay alert and report any symptoms promptly. People diagnosed with mpox are advised to remain in isolation until they test negative and recover fully.

Authorities have been actively screening passengers arriving from countries with known mpox outbreaks, such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The robust screening system at Bacha Khan International Airport has been praised for its role in detecting infected individuals before they can spread the virus further.

All patients who tested positive have been isolated, ensuring that the situation is closely monitored.