Khyber Teaching Hospital in Pakistan’s northwestern city of Peshawar has admitted a patient diagnosed with mpox, as local media reported four new cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, citing the health department.
Footage filmed at the hospital on Thursday shows patients and visitors entering and leaving the facility, while others sit in the waiting area. Medical staff can also be seen entering an isolation room marked ‘monkey pox’.
Dr Irfanullah, assistant professor in the Department of Dermatology at Khyber Medical College, explained how doctors identify suspected infections.
“This patient came to us around five or six days ago. He initially visited our emergency department,” the doctor shared.
“We base our suspicion of infection on the skin rash. In mpox cases, certain types of skin lesions may appear, such as flat spots on the skin, followed by small raised bumps,” he explained.
Dr Irfanullah stressed the importance of home isolation and follow-up examinations for mpox patients, saying family members were advised to keep their distance from one another to prevent the possible spread of infection.
“There is still a risk of complications developing later, even if there are no complications at present,” the doctor warned.
“This is clearly a viral infection, but if the patient’s immune system is strong, the infection usually clears up within two to four weeks,” he added.
He also warned that the stigma surrounding the disease could discourage people from seeking medical attention.
“Sometimes patients do not come to the hospital because they do not want to appear in the media. They fear that people will find out they have a serious or contagious disease. This is a form of social stigma,” he said.
According to local media reports, the four new cases involve three men and one woman. Two patients are reportedly from Nowshera, with the others from Peshawar and Mardan.
The reports put the total number of recorded mpox cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2026 at 18, including one death.
Source: Viory
