Malik Shiza, Asghar Muhammad, Waheed Yasir
Bridging Health Foundation, Rawalpindi 46000, Pakistan.
Department of Biology, Lund University, 22100 Lund, Sweden.
Vaccines (Basel). 2023 Feb 21;11(3):502. doi: 10.3390/vaccines11030502.
Mpox (previously named Monkeypox) is one of the neglected viral infectious diseases that remained silent for a long period before finally emerging as a threat to the healthcare system in endemic regions of the world in recent years. It has been mostly centered in African countries but has now been reported in other non-endemic regions as well. While keeping a strict eye on COVID pandemic handling, there is a need to remain concerned and alert about viral threats such as Mpox infections in the future. This situation has altered the healthcare system of endemic regions, including Pakistan, to stay vigilant against the expected Mpox outbreaks in the coming months. Though no specific cases have been reported in Pakistan, the healthcare system needs to take mitigation measures to tackle an expected threat before it arrives. This is important in order to avoid another major shock to the health care system of Pakistan. Moreover, since no specific treatment is available for Mpox, we can only rely upon mitigation measures, involving preventive and treatment strategies devised around some already in-use antiviral agents against Mpox viruses. Moreover, there is an imperative need to proactively prepare the healthcare system against Mpox outbreaks, spread awareness, and involve the public in a participatory approach to stay well prepared against any such infection. Moreover, there is a need to utilize financial sources, aids, and funds wisely, to create awareness in the public about such expected healthcare outbreaks in the future.
猴痘(以前称为猴天花)是一种被忽视的病毒性传染病,在很长一段时间内悄无声息,近年来最终在世界流行地区成为对医疗系统的一种威胁。它主要集中在非洲国家,但现在其他非流行地区也有报告。在密切关注新冠疫情应对的同时,有必要对未来诸如猴痘感染等病毒威胁保持关注和警惕。这种情况改变了包括巴基斯坦在内的流行地区的医疗系统,使其对未来几个月可能出现的猴痘疫情保持警惕。尽管巴基斯坦尚未报告具体病例,但医疗系统需要采取缓解措施,在预期威胁到来之前加以应对。这对于避免给巴基斯坦医疗系统带来另一次重大冲击至关重要。此外,由于目前尚无针对猴痘的特效治疗方法,我们只能依靠缓解措施,包括围绕一些已在使用的抗猴痘病毒的抗病毒药物制定的预防和治疗策略。此外,迫切需要积极让医疗系统为猴痘疫情做好准备,提高公众意识,并让公众参与一种参与式方法,以便为应对任何此类感染做好充分准备。此外,有必要明智地利用财政资源、援助和资金,向公众宣传未来此类预期的医疗疫情。