Five Newborns Die from Mpox in Pakistan Amid Outbreak

At least five newborns have died in an mpox outbreak in Pakistan, raising concerns over undetected transmission and lapses in infection control inside the country’s hospitals. So far this year, health officials in the southeastern Sindh province have reported 122 suspected mpox cases, with 25 infections laboratory confirmed.

Nine people have died, including the five newborns, who were in neonatal units.

The outbreak is concentrated in the cities of Khairpur and Karachi. Health officials are investigating how the newborns contracted the virus while in neonatal wards. Until now, only sporadic imported infections had been detected, primarily among individuals with travel links to the Middle East.

This outbreak has highlighted ongoing issues related to infection prevention and control measures in hospitals across Pakistan. Recent reports indicate that inadequate practices may have contributed to the transmission of infections. Undercover filming from a media outlet revealed the re-use of syringes and limited use of personal protective equipment, including sterile gloves, at a hospital in Punjab.

This facility has been linked to at least 331 HIV infections in children between November 2024 and October 2025. In 2019, roughly 1,000 people, including about 800 children, contracted HIV after visiting doctors in Sindh. By 2021, it was estimated that 1,500 children had been affected.

Hospital-acquired outbreaks of other diseases, including hepatitis, have also been reported. Officials have stated that the current situation reflects a broader failure in the healthcare system, indicating that infection prevention and control have not been prioritized in hospitals throughout Pakistan.