Pakistan on Alert as WHO Declares Mpox Global Health Emergency

The National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) in Pakistan has issued an alert to Border Health Services in response to a global increase in monkeypox cases and the spread of the Zika virus in India. The NCOC has instructed that all international travelers be monitored for symptoms of monkeypox and quarantined in special wards if suspected. Pakistan has reported nine cases of monkeypox, including one death, while India has seen over 80 cases and multiple fatalities in the city of Pune. The alert is part of a broader strategy to mitigate the spread of infectious diseases within Pakistan.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a global public health emergency over the monkeypox outbreak in Africa. The outbreak, primarily in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has resulted in over 14,000 cases and 524 deaths this year. The WHO's declaration aims to accelerate research, funding, and international public health measures to contain the disease. The virus has spread to neighboring countries, including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has committed to coordinating the global response, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive strategy to address the crisis.