KARACHI: In light of the threat posed by the recent global outbreak of the monkeypox virus, the Federal Ministry of Health has issued tight rules regarding screening, isolation, and other preventive steps at all international airports across the nation.
The ministry’s August 18 notification stated, “To mitigate the risk of international spread, it is essential for all international airports in Pakistan to implement strict preventive measures,” referring to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) designation of the outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
Moreover, in addition to arranging screenings for both passengers and crew upon arrival, the government has connected the issuing of visas at arrival to the travelers’ clearance for health.The revelation coincides with the announcement of at least one case of mpox in the nation following the confirmation of a novel form in Sweden last week, which was connected to an expanding outbreak in Africa — the first indication of the virus’s transmission outside of the continent.
