Mpox Outbreak in Pakistan’s Sindh Province Sparks Alarm as 12 Die and Cases Near 100
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Oct 29, 2026 1 hour, 4 minutes ago
Health authorities in Pakistan’s Sindh province are confronting growing concerns over the spread of mpox as confirmed infections reach 98 and the death toll climbs to 12 in 2026. The outbreak has taken a particularly disturbing turn following the death of a 53-day-old infant who reportedly contracted the virus through contaminated surgical instruments at an illegally operating healthcare facility in Karachi.
Sindh’s escalating mpox outbreak has reached 98 confirmed cases and 12 deaths, with an infant’s infection linked
to contaminated surgical instruments raising serious healthcare safety concerns.
The latest developments have intensified fears that mpox is spreading locally rather than being confined to infections imported from overseas. Health officials are expanding surveillance, contact tracing, and hospital infection-control measures to prevent further transmission.
Infant Death Exposes Dangerous Hospital Practices
The infant, from Karachi’s Malir district, underwent circumcision at Ibn-e-Hassan Hospital when he was just 20 days old. According to health officials, symptoms appeared four days after the procedure.
The baby was subsequently transferred to the Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital and Research Centre, where he died at 53 days of age.
Investigations by the Sindh Healthcare Commission indicated that contaminated surgical scissors were responsible for transmitting the infection. Laboratory testing confirmed mpox.
Inspectors discovered that the facility was operating illegally, employed unqualified personnel, and lacked adequate infection prevention measures.
Authorities subsequently sealed the hospital.
The incident has raised serious questions about patient safety and the potential for healthcare facilities with inadequate sterilization practices to become sources of infectious disease transmission.
New Cases Reveal Growing Community Transmission
Sindh health officials recently confirmed two additional mpox infections, bringing the provincial total to 98.
Seven patients, including an infant, were hospitalized in Karachi within one week, prompting intensified public health interventions.
Surveillance records documented 19 infections between late September and October, including 12 patients from Karachi and seven from other districts.
Significantly, 17 of these 19 patients had no recorded travel history during the preceding 21 days.
Although this does not conclusively establish where infections occurred, the findings strengthen concerns about ongoing local transmission.
This
Thailand Medical News report highlights how infections associated with close personal contact, family gatherings, and suspected healthcare exposures are complicating containment efforts.
Epidemiologists Warn That Actual Spread Remains Unclear
Pakistani epidemiologist Dr.
Rana Jawad Asghar warned that available evidence suggests local transmission is already occurring.
However, insufficient epidemiological investigations make it difficult to determine the outbreak’s actual extent or identify all transmission networks.
Experts emphasize that every confirmed infection requires detailed investigation, identification of close contacts, and assessment of possible exposure settings.
Without these measures, undetected transmission chains could continue spreading infections throughout communities.
Health Authorities Strengthen Prevention Measures
Mpox spreads primarily through close physical contact with infected individuals, exposure to infectious skin lesions, and contaminated materials.
Symptoms commonly include fever, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, and painful skin rashes or blisters.
Authorities are urging residents to avoid contact with suspicious lesions, maintain hand hygiene, and refrain from sharing towels, bedding, or clothing with infected individuals.
Hospitals have also been instructed to strengthen isolation procedures, sterilization practices, and infection-control protocols.
Urgent Action Could Prevent Further Deaths
The rising number of infections and deaths underscores the importance of strengthening Sindh’s disease surveillance and healthcare safety systems. Although the documented cases suggest local transmission, comprehensive investigations remain essential to establish its scale. Rapid diagnosis, effective contact tracing, strict surgical sterilization, and accessible medical care could substantially reduce additional infections while protecting vulnerable patients, particularly infants.
References:
https://www.dawn.com/news/2039397
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2636569/sindh-reports-two-more-monkeypox-cases-tally-rises-to-98
https://www.thenews.pk/print/1444766-sindh-strengthens-mpox-surveillance-after-seven-cases-reported-in-a-week
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/monkeypox
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