Karachi Reports Second Mpox Case in Two Days as Sindh Tally Reaches 43

Health authorities have confirmed another mpox case in Karachi, taking the total number of confirmed infections reported in Sindh during 2026 to 43.

The latest case involves a 35-year-old man from Shah Faisal Colony, who was taken to the Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital after developing rashes across his body.

PCR Test Confirms Mpox Infection

Hospital officials said doctors suspected mpox after examining the patient’s symptoms and arranged a diagnostic test.

A subsequent PCR test confirmed the infection. The patient is currently receiving treatment at the Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital, according to the provincial health department.

The latest infection is the second confirmed mpox case reported in Karachi within two days. The city now accounts for 15 of Sindh’s 43 cases recorded during 2026.

Sindh Reports Rising Number of Cases

Sindh had recorded 41 confirmed cases by September 4. At that time, health authorities reported an infection in a 19-year-old man who had developed a rash and was taken to the Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital.

His PCR test also returned positive.

With the latest reports, the provincial tally has increased to 43 cases this year.

Mpox Cases in Pakistan

Pakistan reported its first confirmed mpox infection in April 2023, when the virus was detected in a traveller arriving from Saudi Arabia.

In August 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the international spread of mpox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

Health authorities later confirmed the presence of the mpox clade 1b variant in Sindh and southern Punjab in April. The variant has raised international health concerns because it may spread more efficiently and can potentially cause more severe illness than some other strains.

How Mpox Spreads

Mpox is a viral infection that can spread through close and prolonged contact with an infected person. Transmission can also occur through contact with contaminated materials, including bedding, clothing and needles.

Common symptoms may include:

• Fever and chills
• Headache
• Tiredness or exhaustion
• Muscle weakness
• Skin rash
• Painful or itchy lesions

Health authorities continue to monitor suspected and confirmed cases and have advised people to seek medical attention if they develop symptoms associated with mpox, particularly after close contact with a suspected or confirmed case.