Monkeypox testing kits have really been ordered and it will arrive soon: Health minister

Monkeypox testing kits have really been ordered and it will arrive soon: Health minister 

On Friday, Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel announced that the government had ordered testing kits to diagnose monkeypox. This viral disease has been sweeping Europe and other parts of the world in recent days, but he was quick to dismiss rumors that the disease had moved to Pakistan.

"We've ordered... the testing kits, and they'll be here soon," he said.

Reports of the disease's appearance in Pakistan, according to the minister, are "misleading" and "should not be taken seriously."

"All [workers at] entry points [of the nation] have been warned, and there has been no case so far," he said.

The National Institute of Health (NIH) also emphasized that no monkeypox cases had been identified in Pakistan and that misinformation circulating on social media about the disease's prevalence in the country was "incorrect."

The institute's clarification came a day after it issued an advisory urging national and provincial health authorities to be on high alert for any suspected monkeypox cases.

The NIH also stated that precautions had already been taken to prevent a potential outbreak in the country, with plans in place at all airports — including medical tests — to identify any sick passengers.

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What is monkeypox?

Monkeypox is a rare viral zoonotic illness caused by infection with the monkeypox virus, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Although the natural reservoir of monkeypox is unknown, the virus may be carried by African rodents and non-human primates such as monkeys, which can infect humans.

The disease could be spread through contact with infected animals, humans, or contaminated materials, according to the warning.

The virus enters the body through abrasions on the skin, the respiratory tract, or mucous membranes such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.

Within one to three days of the onset of fever, the patient develops a rash, which usually starts on the face and spreads to other areas of the body. Headache, muscle aches, tiredness, and lymphadenopathy are some of the other symptoms.

The incubation time is usually seven to fourteen days, although it can be anywhere between five to twenty-one days. The ailment lasts two to four weeks on average.