PM for strict vigilance in wake of global monkeypox outbreak

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday directed for keeping strict vigilance on spread of monkeypox (mpox) after the World Health Organisation (WHO) had declared its outbreak in different parts of the world as a public health emergency of international concern.

Chairing an important meeting on the measures being taken against the spread of mpox virus, the prime minister directed for ensuring effective screening measures at all airports, seaports and borders of the country, besides asking the border health services to keep complete surveillance of the situation.

He also directed the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) to keep alertness and hold daily evaluation of the situation and asked for provision of all required gadgets and kits for the evaluation of the mpox virus, the official news agency reported.

The meeting was attended by PM’s Coordinator on National Health Dr Malik Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath, Federal Secretary National Health Nadeem Mehboob, Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik, chief secretaries, chief commissioner ICT and other relevant senior officials, the PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.

The prime minister further directed for strengthening of coordination among the provincial governments and the governments of Gilgit Baltistan and Azad and Jammu Kashmir.

He asked for the launch of effective and complete awareness campaign, besides hinting to get weekly briefing on the mpox situation.

The meeting was apprised of the situation on the spread of the monkeypox virus. A person in District Mardan was diagnosed as a carrier of the virus. The resident had just returned to Pakistan from abroad where he was employed. He was quarantined and his condition was out of danger, the meeting was further apprised.

It was told that no local transmission of the mpox virus was detected in Pakistan.

The WHO, on August 14, had declared spread of the mpox virus as public health emergency after which the NCOC had issued a national advisory. The required instructions in this regard have been issued, the meeting was told.

The federal and provincial governments were launching awareness drives in this regard, whereas the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) would supervise the flights arriving from abroad.

The provincial governments, governments of Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir and the Islamabad Capital Territory administration have allocated isolation wards and beds in the largest hospitals for the possible mpox virus cases.

All the precautionary measures were in place, it was further added.