ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Health on Monday confirmed that an mpox case identified last week in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa has been classified as belonging to the Clade IIb variant.
According to Ministry of Health spokesperson Sajid Hussain Shah, the identification has been made through genome sequencing.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has categorized the mpox virus into two primary clades: Clade I and Clade II. According to the health ministry, most mpox cases reported between 2022 and 2023 have been linked to Clade II, which is known for causing milder symptoms compared to the Clade I.
Currently, the ongoing mpox outbreak in Africa is associated with Clade I. However, there have been no reported cases of Clade I in Pakistan, the spokesperson stated.
The spokesperson said the Ministry of Health is actively monitoring the situation and remains committed to safeguarding the public from outbreaks. He reiterated the government’s dedication to public health and safety measures in light of emerging health threats.