Pakistan has detected its first Mpox (Monkeypox) case of 2025, discovered during routine health screenings by Border Health Services staff at Peshawar's Bacha Khan International Airport.
The Ministry of Health confirmed that the patient, who tested positive, became the 10th reported case since the country declared a health emergency to tackle the disease, according to Express News. Officials noted that the individual recently traveled to Gulf nations, linking the case to international travel.
Health Coordinator Dr. Mukhtar Bharth emphasized the government’s commitment to safeguarding public health. "We have implemented stringent measures across airports and are ensuring compliance with International Health Regulations. Both federal and provincial authorities are working together to contain mpox," he stated.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Health Advisor Ehtesham Ali corroborated the news, confirming that the case was identified at Peshawar Airport. He explained that upon detection, a Public Health team promptly responded and transported the 35-year-old patient, who had traveled from Dubai, to Police Services Hospital. Samples from the patient were then sent to the Public Health Reference Lab, where the diagnosis was confirmed.
The health advisor also disclosed that a formal request has been sent to the airport manager to provide details of passengers who were in close contact with the infected individual. "Once we receive the passenger information, local District Health Officers (DHOs) will initiate contact tracing to prevent further spread," he added.
To date, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has reported a total of 10 mpox cases--two in 2023, seven in 2024, and now the first case of 2025. Authorities are urging the public to remain cautious, practice social distancing, and follow health guidelines.
Last year, Pakistan reported eight mpox cases, including a 32-year-old traveler from the Gulf who was isolated and treated for mild symptoms.
Pakistan’s health ministry has introduced robust screening protocols at airports and border crossings to curb the virus’s spread. While the mutated clade I strain of mpox prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a global health emergency in 2024, Pakistan has not yet reported any cases of this new variant.
Meanwhile, on 21st January 2025, the World Health Organization launched a USD1.5 billion emergency appeal to address global health crises.
WHO Launches $1.5 Billion Emergency Appeal to Address Global Health Crises
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced a $1.5 billion emergency appeal to address what it describes as "unprecedented" global health challenges.
The 2025 Health Emergency Appeal (HEA) aims to deliver critical humanitarian aid to over 300 million individuals impacted by 42 ongoing health crises worldwide. Among these, 17 are classified as grade three emergencies—the most severe category that demands the highest level of intervention.
The appeal underscores four major drivers of these health emergencies: climate change, armed conflicts, mass displacement, and disease outbreaks. According to the WHO, these factors are intensifying and prolonging health crises, placing the most vulnerable populations at even greater risk.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, remarked: "Conflicts, disease outbreaks, climate-related disasters, and other emergencies are no longer isolated or occasional events. They are persistent, interconnected, and worsening."
The WHO’s emergency operations include supplying essential healthcare services, providing medical supplies, conducting vaccination campaigns, addressing malnutrition, supporting maternal and child health, and delivering mental health assistance to those affected by trauma.
One of the critical grade three emergencies highlighted in the appeal is the resurgence of cholera. Since early 2024, outbreaks of this severe diarrheal disease have been reported in 33 countries. The WHO has pledged to focus on controlling its spread and preventing further transmission in high-risk areas.
Yemen remains a key focus of the appeal due to widespread outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, including measles, diphtheria, malaria, vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2, and acute watery diarrhea, including cholera.
The rise in Mpox cases is also part of the emergency response plan. As of October 31, 2024, more than 20,000 cases have been reported across 80 countries. The WHO’s Mpox Global Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan involves strengthening surveillance, expanding diagnostic capabilities, and ensuring fair access to medical treatments such as vaccines and antiviral medications.
