High alert declared at all points of entries in Balochistan in context of possible monkeypox outbreak

Independent Report

QUETTA: The Health Department Balochistan has declared high alert at all point of entries of the province in context of the possible monkeypox break.
In this regard, the Director General Health Services has issued a letter to the District Health Officers of Quetta, Gwadar, Chaghai, Kech, Hub and Chaman instructing them to take all required measures at the point of entries in their districts to detect any suspected case of monkeypox, report it to the focal person for monkeypox response.
It may be mentioned here that Dr. Shahzada Kamran at PDSRU, DGHS, Balochistan) has been designated as the focal person for further guidance regarding shifting to BMCH for testing and management, designated for quarantine and isolation, with proper IPC measures in place.
The Director General Health said “your vigilant and proactive measures to be prepared for response will be highly appreciated ensuring the protection of our population from the spread of this deadly infectious disease.”
It may also be mentioned here that the WHO had declared public health emergency of international concern due to a surge in cases of monkey pox and a new more deadly strain of the same in parts of Africa, followed by confirmation of first case in Kyber Pakhtunkhaw on August 13 who recently returned from the Gulf region.