Pakistan: First Mpox case of the year detected at Peshawar airport

Pakistan on Saturday confirmed its first Mpox case of the year during routine passenger screening at Bacha Khan International Airport in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

According to The Express Tribune, the detection was made by border health services staff, with the patient identified as having a travel history to Gulf countries.

Health coordinator Dr Mukhtar Bharth stated that measures are being taken to safeguard public health. "All airports have robust screening systems in place, and compliance with international health regulations is being ensured. Both federal and provincial governments are committed to combating Mpox," he said.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa health advisor Ehtesham Ali confirmed the case, explaining that upon detection, the public health monitoring team acted swiftly.

The patient, a 35-year-old traveller from Dubai, was transferred to Police Services Hospital, where tests confirmed Mpox at the public health reference lab.

Authorities have requested passenger details from Peshawar Airport to facilitate contact tracing. "Once information is received, district health officers will be notified to trace and monitor potential contacts," Ali added.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has reported 10 Mpox cases to date—two in 2023, seven in 2024, and one in 2025. However, discrepancies remain in case counts, as the health ministry previously reported eight Mpox cases by December 2024.

Authorities have reiterated their commitment to controlling the spread of the virus through stringent health measures and active monitoring.