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Second Local Mpox Case Confirmed in Karachi
Health authorities in Karachi have confirmed the city’s second locally transmitted mpox case of 2026, raising concerns about community spread of the viral disease .
The patient, a 20-year-old student from the Buffer Zone area, is currently receiving treatment at the Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital and Research Centre (SIDH&RC). Hospital officials confirmed he has no travel history and is in stable condition .
This marks the second mpox case reported in Karachi this year, following a previous case last month where the patient recovered fully. Both cases suggest the virus is now spreading through local contact rather than being imported from abroad .
Sindh Outbreak by the Numbers
The Sindh Health Department has reported a total of 14 mpox cases across the province in 2026 :
| Location | Cases | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Khairpur | 12 | 5 (newborns) |
| Karachi | 2 | 0 |
All five fatalities occurred in Khairpur, where newborn babies with weakened immune systems succumbed to complications. Health officials clarified that mpox was not the direct cause of death; rather, the infants were already premature, underweight, and malnourished .
Authorities Launch Contact Tracing and Response
The health department has formed a specialized team led by focal person Dr. Shankar to investigate the latest Karachi case. Close contacts of the patient have been identified and are being monitored; none have shown symptoms so far .
Isolation wards have been established in major and district headquarters hospitals across Sindh. Testing is available free of charge at Aga Khan University Hospital and Dow University of Health Sciences in Karachi, with results typically available within 24 hours .
Sindh Health Minister Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho has urged citizens to seek immediate medical attention if they develop symptoms including fever, sore throat, rash, or pus-filled skin lesions .
Khairpur Outbreak: A Deeper Crisis
The situation in Khairpur remains the most concerning, with 12 confirmed cases and five infant deaths. The neonatal units at two hospitals were sealed after officials identified “critical lapses” in infection control protocols .
Infectious disease experts have warned that the appearance of mpox among newborns represents a troubling new development. Dr. Fatima Mir, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Aga Khan University, noted that the virus was previously observed mainly in adults, making its emergence in infants particularly alarming .
🩺 Understanding Mpox Transmission
Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) spreads primarily through:
- Direct skin-to-skin contact with infected individuals
- Exposure to contaminated clothing, bedding, or towels
- Prolonged respiratory droplets in close settings
Early symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes, followed by a rash that develops into fluid-filled lesions. Unlike chickenpox, mpox lesions typically appear at the same stage and are more painful .
Shift from Travel-Linked to Local Transmission
Historically, mpox cases in Pakistan were linked to international travel, particularly individuals returning from Gulf countries. However, the emergence of cases without travel history—including the two confirmed in Karachi—indicates local transmission is now occurring .
Experts have termed mpox an “immediate health concern” and called for strict enforcement of infection control protocols in healthcare settings, along with greater public awareness about transmission risks .
What Citizens Should Do
The Sindh Health Department advises the public to:
- Seek immediate medical attention if fever or skin rash develops
- Avoid touching suspected patients or sharing personal items
- Wash bedding and clothing in hot water
- Suspected patients should stay isolated until test results are confirmed
- Patients testing positive must remain hospitalized until full recovery (typically 3-4 weeks)
