Islamabad airport screening called into question after fifth mpox case

Islamabad airport screening called into question after fifth mpox case

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa health minister expressed concerns over the effectiveness of the screening mechanisms in place at Islamabad airport, as the province confirmed its fifth mpox case on Wednesday.

Following the confirmation of Pakistan's fifth case of Monkeypox (MPOX), screening procedures at Islamabad International Airport have come under scrutiny.

 The latest case involved a 33-year-old man who travelled to Peshawar from a Gulf country. 

Despite existing health protocols, concerns have been raised about inadequate screening, especially given the health risks MPOX poses to vulnerable populations such as children, pregnant women and the immunocompromised.

 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Minister Qasim Ali Shah has severely criticised the federal government for not taking stricter measures at the airport, especially following the detection of five cases among over 66,000 people screened at various entry points in the province.

 Shah called for immediate improvements to prevent further spread, especially given that the World Health Organisation has designated Mpox a public health emergency

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