Sun Mar 23 07:03:11 UTC 2025: ## Pakistan Confirms Second Mpox Case of 2025
**Islamabad, March 23, 2025** – Pakistan has confirmed its second case of mpox this year, a 29-year-old man in Karachi who is currently hospitalized at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC). This brings the total number of confirmed mpox cases in Pakistan to at least 17 since 2023. Health officials have initiated contact tracing and intensified screening at airports and border crossings.
The patient presented with skin lesions and is reported to be in stable condition. His wife, who recently returned from Saudi Arabia with similar lesions that have since healed, is also being investigated. The man also has hepatitis C.
This is the first mpox case reported in Sindh province this year. The previous case was reported in January in Peshawar. All cases to date have been linked to international travel, with no evidence of local transmission. Authorities are urging vigilance and emphasizing the importance of close contact precautions.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a global emergency in August 2024. The virus, previously known as monkeypox, is spread through close contact with an infected person or animal, or contaminated materials. Common symptoms include a skin rash, fever, headache, and muscle aches. While the current outbreak is predominantly linked to the milder Clade II of the virus, officials have reported no Clade I cases in Pakistan.
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