Iran Press/Asia: The decision was made during a special session convened to discuss measures for preventing the spread of the disease.
According to a Saturday report from the public relations office of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, the extraordinary meeting of the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) was chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and held in Islamabad today.
The emergency declaration follows the confirmation of 11 monkeypox cases by Pakistan's Ministry of Health. However, health officials have stated that the situation is not comparable to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prime Minister Sharif announced that in response to the World Health Organization's (WHO) declaration of a public health emergency, the Islamabad government will enhance surveillance at both land and air borders.
During the meeting, Pakistani officials emphasized the need to strengthen strategies for identifying potential monkeypox cases. It was also decided that medical equipment for testing individuals, particularly those returning from the Middle East, would be provided at airports.
The World Health Organization last week declared a public health emergency of international concern for monkeypox for the second time in two years.
Monkeypox initially spread globally in May 2022, prompting the WHO to declare an emergency from July 2022 to May 2023. During that period, approximately 90,000 cases were identified, resulting in around 140 deaths.
Monkeypox is an infectious disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans, and it can also spread through close physical contact between individuals.
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