NIH issues advisory on mpox amid global health emergency

ISLAMABAD: The National Institute of Health (NIH) issued an advisory on Thursday concerning mpox, formerly known as monkeypox.

In Pakistan, 11 cases of mpox have been reported since April 2023, with one patient having died from the disease.

Globally, there have been 99,518 reported cases of mpox, with 208 deaths attributed to the disease. The advisory highlights that 99 per cent of mpox patients survive.

The World Health Organization declared mpox a global emergency yesterday in response to its spreading impact.

The NIH recommends maintaining a clean environment, ensuring that medical staff use masks, and promoting regular handwashing among the public.

Read more: Airports placed on high alert amid global rise in Mpox cases

How is mpox spread?

The mpox virus causes mpox and spreads through close contact with infected animals or people. Transmission can also occur when handling materials, such as blankets, that have been in contact with someone who has mpox.

Person-to-person spread occurs through direct contact with the rashes, scabs, or body fluids of an infected individual. It can also spread through prolonged close contact (more than four hours) with respiratory droplets from an infected person, including during sexual activity. Additionally, the virus can be transmitted via clothes, sheets, blankets, or other materials that have come into contact with rashes or body fluids of an infected person.