LAHORE: The Punjab government has constituted a 20-member Technical Working Group (TWG) to monitor the Monkeypox (mpox) situation across the province.

The government formed the high-profile body on the pattern of the other TWGs which were constituted for dengue, Covid and such other viral diseases which had hit the province hard in the past and the respective groups had helped control the epidemics of the viruses by furnishing advisories/guidelines and the remedies keeping in view the international practices.

While issuing a fresh notification, the government made former provincial health minister Prof Javed Akram the chairman while Director General Health Punjab the co-chairman of the working group for the mpox with elaborating in detail the terms of references (ToRs) to monitor the situation across the province in this respect.

The health experts, including professors from various teaching hospitals, were also made part of the TWG.

According to the ToRs, the committee shall review overall situation of mpox in Punjab, furnish recommendations regarding prevention, detection, diagnosis, disseminate and periodically review the clinical management and treatment protocols for mpox patients.

Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2024