Newborn Infant Dies from Mpox... Pakistan Records 12 Deaths This Year

A 53-day-old infant has died from mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) in Pakistan's southern Sindh province.

This brings the death toll from mpox infections in Sindh province to 12 this year.

Saudi media outlet Arab News and Xinhua News Agency reported that the 53-day-old infant died from mpox on October 24 in Karachi, the capital of Sindh province.

Sindh health authorities explained that the infant, from the Malir district of Karachi, underwent circumcision at a local hospital when he was 20 days old.

Four days after the procedure, mpox symptoms appeared, and the infant was transferred to another hospital in Karachi, but ultimately passed away.

Health authorities stated that an investigation into the cause of death confirmed it as an mpox infection.

After receiving a report that the infant contracted mpox at the hospital, Sindh health authorities shut down the facility.

Investigations revealed that the medical staff at the hospital lacked medical licenses and failed to follow virus infection prevention procedures.

In particular, investigators found that the medical staff used scissors contaminated with the virus during the infant's circumcision.

This death comes amid growing concerns over community transmission of mpox in Sindh province.

From last month to this month, a total of 19 people in Sindh province have been infected with mpox through routes such as contact and family gatherings.

The cumulative number of mpox cases this year stands at 98, with 12 of those patients having died.

Dr. Rana Jawad Asghar, a Pakistani physician and infectious disease expert, explained that based on currently available information, community transmission appears to be underway.

However, he told Arab News that it is difficult to determine the exact scale of the outbreak before a comprehensive epidemiological investigation is conducted.

Dr. Asghar noted, "If the newborn was infected through surgical instruments, this is extremely dangerous," and urged authorities to enforce strict infection prevention procedures.

Mpox was formerly known as monkeypox and was an endemic disease in central and west Africa before beginning to spread globally in May 2022.

Infection with mpox often causes blister-like rashes and can be accompanied by acute fever, headaches, and muscle aches.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.