Federal health authorities announced on Monday that only a few approved labs can test for Mpox. These labs are located in major cities, including Islamabad, provincial capitals, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
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No private lab authorized to conduct Mpox test
No private labs have been authorized to perform Mpox tests yet. The Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA) has stopped private labs from testing for monkey pox, unless they have approval from the National Institute of Health (NIH).
The National Institute of Health (NIH) and six other government labs are currently the only places allowed to test for monkey pox. This decision follows a recent issue where a patient at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) was incorrectly tested with a nasopharyngeal swab, a method not suitable for diagnosing monkey pox.
The IHRA has instructed all healthcare facilities in Islamabad, including hospitals and labs, to only conduct monkey pox tests if authorized. This is to ensure that testing is done accurately and to help prevent the spread of the virus.
Labs must get clearance from the IHRA and approval from the NIH to ensure quality. Currently, only the NIH is authorized to test for monkey pox in Islamabad, and these tests are free of charge.
Measures to Control Mpox
The Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) has provided guidelines on monkey pox symptoms, such as fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes. They have also launched awareness campaigns to help people recognize these symptoms and seek medical help if needed.
To control monkey pox, the government is isolating suspected cases and tracking contacts of confirmed cases. They advise avoiding close contact with infected people and practicing good hygiene, like frequent hand-washing.
Patients with monkey pox symptoms will be treated as if they have the virus until test results confirm otherwise. Hospitals will isolate suspected cases and follow safety measures to prevent transmission.
Recently, two suspected monkey pox cases from abroad were tested in Islamabad and Peshawar but were found to be negative. This highlights the need for strict border controls and testing procedures.
Though the number of confirmed monkey pox cases in Pakistan is still low, health officials are keeping a close watch and have set up systems to quickly spot potential cases.
