The Sindh Health Department has mandated the establishment of Monkeypox Response Units in hospitals throughout the province. Instructions have been issued to all district health officers (DHOs) and medical superintendents to set up dedicated facilitation centers for suspected monkeypox cases, along with 24/7 public information and support desks.
These centers will provide the public with vital information and raise awareness about monkeypox symptoms. Trained personnel will be assigned to information desks to ensure effective coordination between hospitals, surveillance teams, and emergency services. Additionally, health officials have been instructed to enforce stringent infection control protocols rigorously.
Hospitals and health institutions are required to submit detailed reports within 48 hours to monitor the situation closely. This directive follows a recent tragic development in Khairpur, where the deputy commissioner confirmed that four out of seven children suffering from skin diseases have died due to monkeypox infection.
Khairpur has experienced a sudden outbreak of skin-related illnesses, resulting in seven child fatalities. Commissioner Abid Saleem Qureshi stated that four deaths were directly linked to the monkeypox virus, while some affected children were also diagnosed with measles. So far, 19 children have been reported infected with the skin disease.
In response, emergency measures have been activated in Khairpur to contain the outbreak, with most fatalities occurring in the Thari Mirwah area. Across the Sukkur Division, isolation wards have been established to treat patients and prevent further transmission of the disease.
Monkeypox is a viral illness caused by the Mpox virus. Although its natural reservoir remains unknown, African rodents and non-human primates, such as monkeys, are believed to carry and transmit the virus to humans. The disease usually begins with a rash appearing 1 to 3 days after fever onset, starting on the face and spreading to other body parts.
The rash evolves through several stages: macules, papules, vesicles, pustules, and scabs. Other symptoms include headache, muscle pain, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes. The incubation period typically ranges from 7 to 14 days but can vary between 5 and 21 days. The illness generally lasts from 2 to 4 weeks.
