Infant dies from mpox after illegal circumcision at Karachi clinic

A 52-day-old boy died early Saturday at Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital & Research Centre after battling mpox for over a week, the first infant fatality recorded in Karachi. Sources allege the virus was contracted during a circumcision at an illegal clinic in Malir, which authorities have shut down for lacking proper infection-prevention measures. Hospital staff report another infant with the disease is still in critical condition, also linked to the same clinic.

The latest death brings Sindh’s mpox death count to 12 among 98 confirmed cases this year, with most victims being infants exposed in medical settings. Earlier outbreaks in Khairpur and Sukkur also involved infants and highlighted inadequate infection control. Experts note mpox spreads through close contact with lesions, contaminated materials, and can be airborne in limited circumstances, emphasizing the need for strict hygiene protocols.