Sindh Mpox Cases Cross 100 as Woman Reaches ICU
Sindh mpox cases have crossed 100 this year after another case was confirmed in Karachi, prompting the provincial Health Department to review surveillance and containment measures. A woman who tested positive for the virus has been moved to the intensive care unit of the Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital at Nipa.
Hospital officials said the woman was brought to the facility two days ago, where samples were collected for a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. The infection was confirmed after the test results became available. Seven mpox patients are currently receiving treatment at the hospital.
Sindh mpox cases pass a grim milestone
According to figures available with the Health Department, Sindh had reported 98 mpox cases and 12 deaths so far this year. Sources said the latest case had taken the cumulative number of infections reported during the year beyond 100.
The milestone matters because it shows the virus is still spreading in the province, months after the first cases of the year. Feature Pakistan previously reported the tally at 95, with two new cases, and later reported the 12th death in the province. The latest case confirms that the count has kept climbing since then.
Against this backdrop, a meeting of Health Department officials was convened under the chairmanship of the director general Health Services Sindh to review the situation and assess measures to prevent further transmission.
Those at the meeting included the director Health Services Karachi Division, a professor of pathology at Dow University, and Professor Dr Saeed Khan, director of the Provincial Public Health Laboratory Sindh. The chief executive officer of the Sindh Healthcare Commission was also invited, along with Dr Asif Syed, Additional Director of the Provincial Disease Surveillance and Response Unit.
What officials reviewed
Participants reviewed arrangements for monitoring cases, identifying suspected patients at an early stage and ensuring timely reporting of infections. Discussions also focused on laboratory testing of suspected cases, identifying people who had come into contact with infected individuals and ensuring their continued monitoring.
Officials further examined measures to strengthen infection prevention and control at public and private hospitals and healthcare centres, improve early diagnosis and ensure that confirmed and suspected cases were promptly reported to the relevant authorities.
The meeting also considered ways to strengthen coordination among the health department, hospitals, laboratories and other relevant institutions to accelerate testing, improve case detection and limit the potential spread of the virus.
What mpox is, and how it spreads
Mpox is a viral illness that spreads mainly through close contact with an infected person, including skin-to-skin contact, and through contact with contaminated bedding or clothing. Symptoms typically include fever, headache, muscle aches and a rash that can appear on the face, hands and body. Most people recover within a few weeks, but the illness can become severe, particularly for people with weakened immune systems.
Health authorities advise anyone with an unexplained rash or fever after close contact with a confirmed case to seek medical advice early and avoid close contact with others until assessed. Early testing matters because it allows contacts to be traced and monitored before further transmission occurs.
For Sindh, the challenge is scale. Karachi’s hospitals already handle a heavy load of infectious disease cases, and the Health Department’s review shows officials are trying to tighten the chain from detection to reporting. The fact that seven patients are in treatment at one hospital alone suggests the real number of infections may be higher than the confirmed count, since mild cases often go unreported.
What happens next
The Health Department is expected to continue monitoring contacts of confirmed patients and to push hospitals to report suspected cases promptly. The ICU case at Nipa will be watched closely, since severe cases are the clearest signal of whether the outbreak is worsening.
Related coverage from Feature Pakistan
- The tally previously stood at 95, as reported in Sindh mpox tally reaches 95.
- The province had already recorded its 12th mpox death this year.
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also reported four new mpox cases this month.
- In other disease news, dengue cases rose in the twin cities.
Frequently asked questions
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- The Express Tribune, “Mpox caseload in Sindh soars past 100” (29 October 2026): https://tribune.com.pk/story/2637522/mpox-caseload-in-sindh-soars-past-100
