Two confirmed cases and one suspected case of monkeypox were reported at Mayo Hospital Lahore on Thursday.
According to medical authorities, the presence of the virus has been confirmed in two patients, Safdar and Abu Sufyan. A third female patient has shown monkeypox like symptoms, and her diagnostic tests have been sent for confirmation.
As a precautionary measure, all three individuals have been shifted to the hospital’s isolation ward.
Hospital sources stated that four monkeypox cases have been reported at Mayo Hospital in the past three weeks, raising concerns about a possible increase.
In August, the National Institute of Health confirmed that since the World Health Organization declared the disease a global health emergency in August 2024, 15 cases have been reported in Pakistan.
Monkeypox is caused by the Mpox virus, which is believed to transmit from animals to humans, with African rodents and non human primates considered potential sources.
The illness typically begins with fever, followed by a rash appearing one to three days later, starting from the face and spreading to other parts of the body. The rash progresses through several stages.
Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes, and fatigue. The incubation period generally ranges from 7 to 14 days but can vary between 5 and 21 days. Most patients recover within two to four weeks.
