Islamabad: The National Institute of Health (NIH) has confirmed the first identification of the Mpox virus in a patient from Mardan who recently traveled to the Gulf countries, marking a significant public health development.

According to Press Information Department, the spokesperson for the Ministry of National Health Services, Sajid Hussain Shah, reported that next-generation sequencing was used to classify the virus as belonging to Clade IIb. Mpox virus is divided into two primary clades: Clade I and Clade II, with the latter associated with milder symptoms. The ongoing global outbreak has predominantly involved Clade II, while Clade I, which is considered more severe, has been notably absent in Pakistan.

The NIH is actively monitoring the situation and has implemented measures to track the disease’s progression and ensure public health safety. This step is part of a broader effort to manage and mitigate the potential spread of the virus within the country.