Lahore Airport has been placed on high alert following the emergence of monkeypox (mpox) cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). In response, the Border Health Management held an emergency meeting with airport officials to tighten protocols and prevent the virus from spreading.
Precautionary measures include the installation of thermal scanners at Lahore Airport to monitor incoming passengers. Both passengers and airport staff have been instructed to wear masks, according to Airport Manager Nazir Ahmad Khan. Passengers arriving at the airport must also adhere to the mask-wearing mandate.
“Fumigation is already underway at the airport, and isolation rooms are being set up for any suspected monkeypox cases,” stated Nazir Ahmad Khan.
The Punjab Health Department has issued further instructions to airports across the province, emphasizing the need for isolation rooms. In collaboration with health officials, airport management has developed protocols for quarantining and managing suspected mpox cases.
According to these guidelines, aviation authorities will be alerted if any passenger exhibits symptoms of monkeypox. Passengers with temperatures above 97°F will be quarantined and handed over to Border Health Management for additional screening.
Airline crews are directed to separate suspected patients from other passengers while still on board, allowing them to disembark last. Rescue 1122 services will then transport these cases to designated hospitals, where they will remain in isolation until test results confirm the diagnosis.
Airport staff will operate thermal scanners 24/7 in three shifts, and there are plans to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) and PCR testing facilities for airport personnel to ensure their safety.
The Punjab Health Department has designated six hospitals across the province to handle suspected monkeypox cases. In Lahore, General Hospital is prepared to treat these patients, while other facilities include Benazir Bhutto Hospital in Rawalpindi, Allied Hospital in Faisalabad, Allama Iqbal Hospital in Sialkot, Nishtar Hospital in Multan, and Bahawal Victoria Hospital in Bahawalpur, which has established an isolation ward.
Suspected patients arriving from abroad will be transferred to these hospitals, all of which have been instructed to set up quarantine wards.
Karachi Airport is also on high alert, with the Sindh Health Department implementing similar precautions. According to Dr. Zafar Mehdi, spokesperson for Karachi airport’s health team, two Rescue 1122 ambulances are stationed at the airport, and all incoming passengers undergo medical check-ups.
“Tests will be conducted on passengers showing symptoms, and they will be isolated in government hospitals until test results are available,” he said.
Addressing the situation, Prime Minister’s Coordinator for National Health, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, explained that monkeypox, which first appeared in Africa in 1974, primarily spreads through respiratory droplets and often infects those in close contact with the patient. While the virus is not as dangerous as COVID-19, he stressed the importance of isolating patients and taking preventive measures promptly.
“All passengers arriving from abroad are being screened, and their families should take necessary precautions,” Dr. Mukhtar urged.
As Pakistan prepares for potential mpox cases, health officials continue to reassure the public that the situation is under control, with all necessary measures in place to prevent an outbreak.
