LAHORE (Kashmir English): Mayo Hospital Lahore reported a total of 21 monkeypox cases over the past six months, local media reported citing officials.
According to hospital sources, none of the 21 patients diagnosed with monkeypox have had any history of recent foreign travel.
At present, nine patients remain under treatment at the Mayo Hospital, the officials said.
Samples from three suspected monkeypox patients have been sent to the Health Department for report. Media reports indicate that three deaths linked to monkeypox have been recorded in Lahore.
Most of those affected are between the ages of 20 and 45. A nurse and two paramedical staff members at the hospital also contracted the virus, while two children are also among the confirmed cases.
What is Monkeypox?
An isolation ward has been set up at Mayo Hospital specifically for the treatment of monkeypox patients. Monkeypox is a viral disease caused by the Mpox virus.
Although the natural reservoir of the virus remains unidentified, African rodents and non-human primates (such as monkeys) are suspected to harbour the virus and transmit it to humans.
The disease typically appears with a rash that appears 1 to 3 days following the onset of fever, starting on the face and then spreading to other areas of the body. The rash progresses through several stages: macules, papules, vesicles, pustules, and scabs.
Additional symptoms may include headache, muscle aches, exhaustion, and swollen lymph nodes. The incubation period generally ranges from 7 to 14 days but can vary between 5 and 21 days. The illness usually lasts between 2 and 4 weeks.
