KARACHI: A 20-day-old baby's positive mpox test has led the Sindh Healthcare Commission (SHCC) to seal a hospital in Karachi, after health authorities reported that the infant may have contracted the viral infection through contaminated scissors used during circumcision.
The action against Ibn-e-Hassan Hospital, located in Malir-15, has raised serious patient-safety concerns, with the commission reporting that the facility was operating illegally, employing unqualified healthcare personnel and failing to maintain adequate hygiene and infection-control standards.
According to an official press release issued by SHCC on Tuesday, the enforcement action followed a report from the District Health Officer (DHO), Korangi, regarding a laboratory-confirmed mpox infection in the newborn.
The infant had reportedly undergone circumcision at Ibn-e-Hassan Hospital, which the commission described as a quackery outlet operating in the jurisdiction of Saudabad Police Station.
A sample collected from the infant was tested at Dow Laboratory, where it reportedly returned positive for mpox, previously known as monkeypox.
SHCC identified contaminated scissors used during the procedure as the suspected source of infection. However, the official statement did not detail whether additional testing or an epidemiological investigation had established the precise route of transmission.
SHCC seals hospital after officials face resistance
Following the report, the Sindh Healthcare Commission initiated an enforcement operation at the hospital with support from the DHO Korangi and senior police authorities.
According to SHCC, a person identified by the commission as a quack resisted the inspection team and called supporters to the premises in an attempt to obstruct officials from carrying out their duties.
The situation reportedly escalated to the point where police intervention became necessary.
With assistance from the Superintendent of Police (SP), Korangi, and support from the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Korangi, the situation was brought under control, allowing the SHCC team to proceed with the operation.
The facility was subsequently sealed.
The commission said the hospital was operating illegally with unqualified personnel and cited poor hygiene, inadequate infection prevention and control (IPC) measures, and alleged medical malpractice as grounds for the action.
The official statement did not identify the individual accused of resisting the inspection or indicate whether any arrests or separate criminal proceedings had followed.
Contaminated scissors suspected: How could Mpox spread during circumcision?
A central concern in the case is the possibility that a routine surgical procedure exposed a newborn to a potentially serious viral infection.
Mpox is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the virus spreads primarily through close physical contact with an infected person, but transmission can also occur through contaminated objects and materials.
In healthcare environments, surgical instruments that have not been properly sterilised can expose patients to infectious agents, particularly during procedures involving cuts or breaks in the skin.
Circumcision is a surgical procedure that requires appropriate clinical expertise, sterile instruments and strict infection-prevention measures.
The SHCC's account raises the possibility that contaminated scissors were involved in the infant's infection. However, confirmation of mpox in the baby does not, by itself, establish that the scissors transmitted the virus.
Establishing the source would require assessment of the procedure, sterilisation practices, possible contacts and other relevant exposures.
The suspected circumstances nonetheless highlight the importance of maintaining proper surgical safety standards, particularly when performing procedures on newborns.
Why an Mpox diagnosis in a 20-day-old infant is concerning
Mpox can affect individuals of all ages, but newborns and young children are among those at greater risk of developing serious complications.
Common symptoms include fever, skin rashes or lesions, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue and body aches. In severe cases, the infection may lead to complications requiring hospitalisation and specialist medical care.
Newborns require particular attention because of their vulnerability to infection and their limited ability to tolerate complications such as dehydration or secondary bacterial infections.
An mpox diagnosis in a 20-day-old infant therefore warrants careful medical assessment, appropriate infection-control precautions and monitoring by qualified healthcare professionals.
The circumstances of the Karachi case also demonstrate why determining the source of exposure is important. Mpox can spread through several routes, including close contact with an infected person and contact with contaminated materials.
Identifying the possible source can help health authorities assess whether additional preventive measures are needed.
The SHCC press release did not provide details about the infant's current medical condition, treatment arrangements or recovery.
Illegal medical practice and infection-control failures under scrutiny
Beyond the infant's diagnosis, the enforcement action has exposed alleged regulatory violations at Ibn-e-Hassan Hospital.
Under the Sindh Healthcare Commission Act, 2013, healthcare establishments are subject to regulatory oversight intended to ensure that medical services are delivered by appropriately qualified professionals in accordance with recognised healthcare standards.
The SHCC has authority to inspect healthcare facilities, investigate complaints, examine staff credentials and take enforcement action against illegal healthcare practices.
Its anti-quackery regulations also empower inspection teams to seal establishments where quackery is found to be taking place.
In this case, the commission reported deficiencies in basic hygiene and infection-prevention procedures alongside the involvement of unqualified personnel.
These findings are particularly significant because sterilisation, proper handling of medical instruments and adherence to infection-control practices are essential for preventing healthcare-associated infections.
For procedures involving newborns, these precautions are especially important.
The reported resistance faced by SHCC officials during the operation also highlights the difficulties regulators can encounter while enforcing healthcare standards.
A serious reminder about safety in routine medical procedures
The closure of Ibn-e-Hassan Hospital brings attention to a fundamental concern: the safety of patients undergoing procedures at healthcare establishments that may not meet minimum regulatory and infection-control requirements.
Circumcision is commonly performed, but like any surgical procedure, it requires qualified personnel, appropriate equipment and strict attention to sterilisation.
When such safeguards are compromised, patients can be exposed to avoidable medical risks.
For parents and caregivers, the incident reinforces the importance of choosing properly registered healthcare facilities and qualified practitioners for procedures involving newborns.
The central concern is not simply that a hospital was sealed, but that a 20-day-old infant was diagnosed with a potentially serious infection following a procedure that should have been performed under appropriate safety precautions.
While the exact source of the infection remains to be established, the SHCC's action has brought alleged lapses in medical practice, hygiene and patient safety at the Karachi facility into sharp focus.
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