Pakistan Confirms First Mpox Case of 2025 in Peshawar
The initial symptoms of mpox are flu-like, including fever, chills, fatigue, headache, and muscle aches.
A passenger arriving in Peshawar from Dubai has tested positive for the mpox virus, marking the first case of the infectious disease in Pakistan this year.
The detection was confirmed by the Public Health Reference Lab, according to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Adviser Ihtisham Ali.
The infected individual was promptly moved to the Police Services Hospital for care, where their samples were further tested.
Local authorities have requested the Peshawar airport manager to provide information about other passengers on the same flight.
Over the past three years, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has reported a total of 10 mpox cases. This includes two cases in 2023, seven in 2024, and now one in 2025.
The World Health Organization (WHO) had declared the mpox outbreak a global health emergency in August of the previous year, following an uptick in cases worldwide.
In 2023, Pakistan documented nine cases of mpox, primarily among travelers returning from the Middle East and other regions.
Mpox is a viral illness closely related to the now-eradicated smallpox virus. It spreads through direct contact with infected individuals or contaminated objects like sheets, clothing, and needles.
How Serious Is Mpox, and Who Is Most at Risk?
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), certain strains of mpox, particularly clade I, have had higher fatality rates, with some outbreaks claiming up to 10% of those infected.
However, more recent cases have shown significantly lower death rates, with clade II having a fatality rate of less than 0.2%.
Vulnerable populations, including infants, pregnant women, and those with severely weakened immune systems, are at greater risk of severe illness.
Symptoms of Mpox
The initial symptoms of mpox are flu-like, including fever, chills, fatigue, headache, and muscle aches.
These are often followed by the appearance of a rash, which may be painful or itchy.
The rash develops into raised lesions that eventually scab over and heal over a period of weeks.