Medical disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Always follow your doctor's advice and official Sindh Health Department guidance. If you or your child develop an unusual rash, fever or blisters, seek medical care promptly.

Last updated: October 25, 2026. The facts below reflect reports from Dawn, The Express Tribune, Arab News and the Sindh Health Department available at the time of writing. This is a developing story and reported figures may change.

Karachi Mpox Infant Death: Symptoms, Spread & Home Care

A 52-day-old baby boy has died of mpox in Karachi — the first infant death from the virus in the city — taking Sindh's 2026 death toll to 12, with 98 confirmed cases reported so far this year. The baby reportedly contracted the infection during a circumcision at a now-sealed hospital in Malir, and a second infant is in critical condition. Here are the mpox symptoms to watch for, how the virus spreads, and how families in Karachi can protect their children at home.

What happened in Karachi

According to Dawn (October 25, 2026), the 52-day-old boy from Malir had undergone circumcision at an "illegal" hospital in Malir when he was 20 days old, and developed symptoms four days later. He was treated at the Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital & Research Centre (SIDH&RC) at NIPA for at least 10 days before dying early on Saturday morning. The hospital's medical superintendent, Dr Abdul Wahid Rajput, confirmed to Arab News that the cause of death was mpox.

A senior doctor at SIDH&RC told Dawn that another infant patient with mpox is still in critical condition, and that he too underwent circumcision at the same Malir hospital. The Sindh Healthcare Commission (SHCC) has sealed Ibn-i-Hassan Hospital at Malir 15 after an investigation found it was operating illegally, with unqualified staff and inadequate infection prevention and control measures. The commission said contaminated instruments used during circumcision spread the infection.

At least seven patients, including a SIDH&RC worker believed to have contracted the infection at the hospital, are currently under treatment at the facility — all residents of Karachi. They include two workers from a fruit and vegetable market on the Superhighway and a woman who reportedly contracted the infection from her husband. Seven new mpox cases were reported across Sindh in the past week, most of them in Karachi.

This is not Sindh's first infant tragedy from mpox. In April 2026, an outbreak in Khairpur claimed the lives of at least seven infants, and Sukkur reported two infant deaths. Dawn reports that nearly all of this year's victims were infants or newborns who contracted the infection in hospital or clinic settings lacking infection control protocols. Karachi remains the provincial hotspot, followed by Khairpur, Sukkur and Hyderabad.

Mpox symptoms: what to watch for

Mpox is a contagious viral infection. According to infectious disease specialists quoted in Dawn and The Express Tribune, the illness typically begins with flu-like symptoms and then an itchy, painful rash. Watch for:

• Fever and body aches — often the first signs, sometimes with headache and chills.
• Swollen lymph nodes — a distinctive feature that helps doctors tell mpox apart from chickenpox.
• Rash and blisters — spots, blisters or sores on the skin that can appear on the face, hands, feet or body.
• Tiredness and sore throat — some patients also report a sore throat or difficulty swallowing.

Most patients recover fully within 2–4 weeks without specific treatment, according to Dr Samreen Sarfaraz, consultant infectious diseases at Indus Hospital. But infants, people with weak immune systems and patients with other serious conditions are at higher risk of severe illness. A patient remains infectious until the rash has completely healed and a fresh layer of healthy skin has formed underneath.

Seek medical care promptly if a child develops an unusual rash or blisters, if fever does not settle, if the child stops feeding normally, becomes unusually sleepy or unresponsive, or if sores appear near the eyes. Do not wait for the rash to spread — early medical attention and isolation protect the whole household.

How does mpox spread?

Mpox spreads through close contact with an infected person — direct contact with skin rashes, blisters and lesions, or through contaminated clothing, towels, bedding and other personal items. It can also spread through contaminated medical instruments and surfaces when infection control measures are poor, which is exactly what investigators found at the sealed Malir hospital.

Prof Faisal Mahmood, senior infectious disease specialist at Aga Khan University Hospital, told Dawn that mpox can spread through the air only to a limited extent — when lesions or material from lesions are aerosolised, for example when a sample is taken or when lesions are in or around the airway. Compared with chickenpox, he stressed, mpox is much less contagious: chickenpox can spread through the air over a considerable distance, and the same applies to measles. Close, prolonged contact is the main risk.

Vertical and perinatal transmission is also possible, and some people are infectious 1–4 days before they show symptoms, according to Dr Sarfaraz. That is why health authorities are tracing and monitoring every close contact of confirmed patients.

Protecting your family at home

• Do not share personal items — towels, clothes and bedding of a suspected patient must not be shared, and should be washed separately.
• Avoid contact with rashes and sores — do not touch the lesions, blisters or scabs of a suspected or confirmed patient.
• Wash hands often — with soap and water, especially after caring for a sick person or handling their belongings.
• Isolate until healed — a patient should stay separated from others until the rash has healed, the scabs have fallen off and fresh skin has formed.
• Choose licensed facilities only — for any procedure on a child, including circumcision, use a registered hospital or clinic and ask about sterilised instruments and infection control.
• Watch contacts closely — anyone who has been in close contact with a confirmed patient should monitor themselves for fever or rash and inform their doctor about the exposure.

The Sindh Health Department has directed public and private hospitals to strictly follow infection prevention and control protocols, and has stepped up surveillance and contact tracing. Officials urge the public to rely on official sources for verified information rather than spreading unconfirmed reports.

What authorities are doing

The SHCC sealed Ibn-i-Hassan Hospital after a district health officer's complaint and a test confirming mpox in a 20-day-old newborn from Korangi. During the inspection, officials found poor sanitation, unqualified staff performing circumcisions on children, and inadequate infection prevention measures; the alleged quack and several others fled the scene, and police assistance was sought.

Health authorities have also intensified contact tracing after seven new cases in a single week, and hospitals across Sindh have been ordered to enforce infection control measures and use appropriate protective equipment when examining suspected cases. The Health Department describes mpox as a preventable and treatable public health concern — but only if cases are detected early and contacts are monitored.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are mpox symptoms?

Mpox usually starts with fever, body aches, headache and swollen lymph nodes, followed by an itchy, painful rash with blisters or sores. Most patients recover fully within 2–4 weeks, but infants and people with weak immune systems face higher risk of severe illness. A patient stays infectious until the rash has completely healed and fresh skin has formed.

How many mpox cases and deaths has Sindh reported in 2026?

According to the Sindh Health Department, Sindh has recorded 98 confirmed mpox cases and 12 deaths so far in 2026, including the first infant death in Karachi reported on October 25, 2026. Seven new cases were reported in the past week, most of them in Karachi.

How does mpox spread?

Mpox spreads through close contact with an infected person's rashes, blisters or lesions, through contaminated clothing, towels, bedding and medical instruments, and, to a limited extent, through the air when lesion material is aerosolised. It is much less contagious than chickenpox or measles. Good hand hygiene, not sharing personal items, and strict infection control in clinics prevent most transmission.

How is mpox diagnosed?

Doctors diagnose mpox from the rash and symptoms plus exposure history, and confirm it with testing arranged by the treating doctor or hospital. If you or your child develop an unusual rash or blisters, seek medical care promptly and tell the doctor about any contact with a suspected patient.

Can a home nurse help during mpox recovery?

Yes. A home nurse can monitor fever and symptoms during recovery, help the family follow isolation and hygiene routines correctly, watch for warning signs in infants and elderly patients, and reduce hospital visits for stable patients. WhatsApp +92 308 3688218 to arrange a certified nurse.

Medical disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. The Karachi mpox situation is a developing story and reported figures may change — always follow official Sindh Health Department guidance and your doctor's advice. Mpox symptoms overlap with other illnesses; if symptoms worsen, a child stops feeding normally, or sores appear near the eyes, seek medical care promptly. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.