Concerns have been raised about the effectiveness of health screening procedures in Pakistan after an mpox (formerly monkeypox) patient was missed at Islamabad airport and later diagnosed with the virus in Peshawar. This incident has highlighted gaps in the country’s border health surveillance system.
The patient, who arrived at Islamabad airport on September 7 from a Gulf country, was not identified or examined by Border Health Services (BHS) personnel despite showing visible symptoms of mpox. The individual later traveled to Peshawar, where they were diagnosed with the virus at Khyber Medical University.
Mpox, a viral disease related to smallpox, can spread through close contact and contaminated materials. Initial symptoms include fever, chills, muscle pain, and a rash with raised lesions. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the recent outbreak of mpox as a public health emergency of international concern.
This case has prompted scrutiny of the BHS’s performance, especially given the government’s recent directives for stringent screening measures at all international airports. These measures include thermal scanning, visual inspections, and symptom checks to identify and manage suspected cases of mpox.
Despite these guidelines, the infected passenger was neither questioned nor examined by the BHS staff, raising questions about the implementation and oversight of the health screening protocols. The technical working group on mpox (TWG), which includes representatives from key public health bodies, has criticized the overall surveillance efforts, particularly at airports other than Peshawar, describing them as “very poor.”
The TWG and officials from the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination (NHS, R&C) are concerned that the failure to detect this case could lead to further spread of the virus and undermine public health efforts. They are calling for a review and improvement of the current screening and surveillance systems to ensure better detection and management of mpox cases.
The case underscores the challenges faced by health authorities in managing emerging infectious diseases and the need for robust and effective screening measures at all entry points to prevent further outbreaks.
