LAHORE: Two suspected cases of monkeypox were reported at Lahore General Hospital on Sunday.

A 40-year-old woman and a 55-year-old man were isolated after doctors on duty physically examined them and noticed rashes on their bodies similar to those caused by the monkeypox virus.

The hospital administration issued a high alert and instructed the attending doctors to follow the guidelines for managing cases of monkeypox virus.

Samples from the patients were taken by the doctors and sent to the Punjab Institute of Public Health (IPH) for laboratory testing. The IPH is a government institute that houses several public health experts who deal with infectious diseases.

The hospital administration declined to comment on the suspected cases, stating that they were not authorized to speak on the matter.

Nishtar’s medic faces probe for uploading fake information

Prof Dr Zarfishan Tahir, the dean of the Punjab IPH, and an infectious disease expert with a PhD, told Dawn that the two individuals brought to Lahore General Hospital were apparently not infected with monkeypox. She explained that government institutes have been strictly instructed not to comment on suspected or probable cases of monkeypox in order to prevent panic and fear among the public.

Regarding the two new patients, she mentioned that initial inquiries indicated that they had no significant exposure to the virus, as they had no travel history and had not come into contact with the two confirmed cases of monkeypox reported recently in Pakistan.

She added that the IPH has issued a new advisory for state-run and other hospitals in Punjab, outlining the reporting process for suspected or confirmed cases of monkeypox.

Prof Zarfishan stated that she would be the official focal person responsible for providing information about reported cases of the virus, in order to prevent the dissemination of false information.

Regarding the samples taken from the suspected patients, she mentioned that they were currently being examined, and a report on the matter would be issued soon.

Meanwhile, the Punjab health minister took note of a doctor from Nishtar Hospital of Multan for uploading fake information about mpox cases and the virus on social media. A probe committee has been formed to investigate the doctor’s actions and hold him accountable for creating panic among the public.

According to the notification, Muzammil Bashir, additional secretary of health of south Punjab, has been appointed as the convener of the probe committee.

Three other officials, including Dr Mohammad Azam Khan, a professor of pediatric medicine at Nishtar Medical University Multan, Dr Ali Mehdi, additional medical superintendent of the institute, and Dr Amir Asad, director administration, will assist him as members of the committee.

The committee has been instructed to submit a fact-finding report as soon as possible regarding the doctor’s release of false and fabricated information on social media.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2023