Another Child Dies of Mpox in Sindh as Death Toll Reaches 12
Another child has died of mpox in Karachi, taking the Sindh mpox death toll this year to 12. The child, a resident of Karachi, died during treatment at the Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital in NIPA on Saturday, as health authorities reported seven new cases over the past week.
Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital spokesperson Rashid Khan said the patient had been moved to the facility from a private hospital a few days earlier and died while under treatment. The death takes the total number of mpox cases reported in Sindh this year to 98.
The Sindh mpox death toll has now risen from 11, the figure in our earlier coverage of 93 cases and 11 deaths, to 12. Our earlier report on the Sindh mpox tally reaching 95 recorded two new cases, and the province has since added three more cases to reach 98.
Sindh mpox death toll: cases across the province
Karachi has recorded the highest number of cases in the province, with 26 infections reported so far. Khairpur follows with 22 cases, while Sukkur has reported nine and Hyderabad five. Ghotki, Kashmore and Shaheed Benazirabad have recorded three cases each.
Men account for about 73 per cent of reported cases in Sindh, while women make up the remaining 27 per cent. Health authorities said they have stepped up surveillance, contact tracing and treatment measures in response to the latest cases.
The rise follows an earlier 40-day-old baby testing positive for mpox in Karachi, which took the provincial total to 94.
Hospital sealed over infection control
Separately, the Sindh Healthcare Commission has sealed Ibn-e-Hasan Hospital in Malir 15, Karachi, after a laboratory report confirmed mpox in a 20-day-old newborn. The infant had undergone circumcision at the hospital, according to information available to The Express Tribune.
The case has raised questions about infection-control protocols at health facilities, in particular the sterilisation of medical instruments and the use of sterile procedures during treatment. Our report on the Karachi hospital sealed after the newborn case covers the closure in detail.
Health authorities have directed public and private hospitals to follow prescribed infection-prevention measures. Close contacts of confirmed patients are being identified and monitored.
How mpox spreads, and what to watch for
Dr Abdullah Yahya, Additional Director at the Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital and a consultant dermatologist, cautioned that mpox is a contagious viral disease. It can spread through close physical contact with an infected person, including direct contact with skin lesions, blisters and sores.
“The virus could also be transmitted through contaminated clothing, towels, bedding and other personal belongings used by an infected person,” Dr Yahya said. He stressed the need to avoid contact with contaminated items and affected persons.
He also emphasised early diagnosis, isolating infected individuals and following medical advice to prevent further transmission. Common symptoms include fever, body aches, swollen lymph nodes and unusual skin rashes, blisters or sores.
“Mpox can affect both children and adults, although the severity of the illness varies from person to person. Infants, people with weakened immune systems and those suffering from other underlying medical conditions may face a higher risk of severe illness and complications,” Dr Yahya said.
Most patients recover with appropriate medical care and monitoring, he added, but immediate medical attention is necessary if severe symptoms develop. Health experts have advised the public to maintain good hygiene, avoid direct contact with the lesions of suspected or confirmed patients, and refrain from sharing personal items such as towels, clothes and bedding.
The latest figures sit alongside other health pressures in the province. Dengue cases in the twin cities have also climbed, with 109 cases reported as Rawalpindi recorded 67, a reminder that hospitals are handling more than one outbreak at a time.
Frequently asked questions
How does mpox spread?
It spreads through close physical contact with an infected person, including contact with skin lesions, blisters and sores, and through contaminated clothing, towels, bedding and other personal belongings.
What are the symptoms of mpox?
Common symptoms include fever, body aches, swollen lymph nodes and unusual skin rashes, blisters or sores. Severe symptoms need immediate medical attention.
Who faces the highest risk?
Infants, people with weakened immune systems and those with other underlying medical conditions face a higher risk of severe illness and complications, according to doctors at the Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital.
How many mpox cases has Sindh reported this year?
Sindh has reported 98 cases and 12 deaths this year, with Karachi recording the highest number of cases at 26.
Source: The Express Tribune.
