• Another infant boy admitted to SIDH&RC for disease treatment
• New cases raise Sindh’s tally to 98 this year
• Officials claim there is no need for ‘undue’ concern

KARACHI: Seven more mpox patients, including an infant, have been hospitalised over the past week, prompting authorities to strengthen surveillance and direct health facilities to strictly implement infection control measures, it emerged on Friday.

According to sources, the seven patients are all residents of Karachi and currently under treatment at the Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital and Research Centre (SIDH&RC).

The hospital reported the second case of an infant on Friday.

“The condition of the [first] infant admitted a week back is critical as he has developed other infections and is experiencing a decline in oral intake. All adult patients are stable,” shared a doctor on the condition of anonymity.

The two infants, aged less than two months, had been circumcised at the same Malir hospital, which was recently sealed by the Sindh Healthcare Commission (SHCC), he added.

The inpatients, the sources said, included an employee of the SIDH&RC.

The employee was engaged in the food supply and distribution service and was suspected to have contracted the infection from the hospital.

Two other patients worked at the fruit and vegetable market on Superhighway, they added.

With the latest cases, the total number of mpox cases recorded so far this year at the SIDH&RC has reached 29.

The provincial tally stands at 98 with 11 deaths, according to the data released by the Provincial Disease Surveillance and Response Unit.

The SIDH&RC patients, including two women, were residents of Gulistan-i-Jauhar, Sachal Goth, Landhi and Saudabad and other areas.

Surveillance strengthened

The health department has stated that the government has strengthened surveillance, contact tracing and case management measures following the detection of the seven mpox cases over the past week.

“The department is closely monitoring the situation and ensuring timely identification of cases and appropriate clinical care to prevent further transmission.

“Appropriate clinical care is being provided to patients admitted to public hospitals, while healthcare facilities have been advised to ensure the use of personal protective equipment wherever indicated and follow all relevant safety protocols.”

According to officials, the situation is being managed through established public health protocols, and there is no need for undue concern.

“The public is encouraged to maintain good hand hygiene, exercise caution in crowded places, particularly healthcare facilities, and avoid direct contact with skin lesions, rashes or personal belongings of suspected or confirmed cases. Sharing towels, clothing, bedding and other personal items should be avoided.”

Mpox, the department stated, is a preventable and manageable public health concern.

Individuals who develop an unusual rash, blisters or skin lesions, particularly following close contact with a suspected or confirmed case, should seek prompt medical assessment and inform healthcare professionals of any relevant exposure.

“Those with suspected mpox should avoid close physical contact with others until assessed by a healthcare professional,” it said.

Recently, the SHCC has sealed Ibn-i-Hassan Hospital at Malir 15 following a laboratory report confirming an Mpox case in an infant, after concerns were raised regarding infection prevention and control practices.

In April, an outbreak of mpox, which was earlier restricted to patients with a history of foreign travel, was reported from Khairpur, claiming the lives of several newborns. The babies were under treatment in the intensive care units of two hospitals and reportedly contracted the illness due to lack of infection control measures.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2026