Taj Nabi Khan
THE future of the modern world, health
and prosperity of its inhabitants is linked
together like the people of a small village somewhere in far corner of the globe who work together to the best of their abilities for the survival of the entire community. In face of bigger challenges, only coordinated efforts on larger scale can bring the required results in safeguarding humanity from global health concerns. Over the years thousands of people have died due to plagues and epidemic diseases worldwide. But the virus-carrier-disease used to get contained at some point in time and geographical location due to limited mobility of the people. But the case of novel (new) coronavirus (COVID-19) like dengue epidemic is different as it has become a major challenge for the global community due to mobility of people from one country to another.
According to WHO’s statistics, the outbreak of the virus has caused death of more than 3,000 people globally and infected over 90,000 people. Similarly, over 8,700 cases have been reported in 61 countries outside China, 81 percent are in just four countries. The global spread of virus during the last few weeks has caused the stock markets to sink to the lowest level over the fear that it could wreak havoc on the world economy. The WHO has named the illness COVID-19 referring to its origin. The virus was first reported in December 2019 in Wuhan city in Hubei province of China. The virus is actually a respiratory illness caused by the virus. The symptoms of the virus range from common flu-like diseases such as coughing, sore throat, fatigue, fever to more serious like pneumonia, breathing difficulties, acute respiratory syndrome, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
The term coronavirus, currently a buzzword in media and public circles worldwide including Pakistan, was initially an endemic viral disease in China; has turned to become a cross-border pandemic outbreak causing panic across the globe. The virus is most likely to spread through close contact with infectious person: contact with droplets of infected person’s cough or sneeze, touching surface that has cough or sneeze droplets and then touching mouth or face with infected hand. So far officially, Pakistan has confirmed more than cases of coronavirus. According to State Minister on Health, Dr Zafar the patients are being handled according to clinical protocols. The high-level meeting of National Action Plan for COVID-19 has decided to strictly ensure and reinforce the surveillance on Ports of Entry for identification of infected persons. The spread of virus could be contained in the country with coordinated efforts of the authorities concerned to sensitize public on precautionary measures in light of the formulated National Action Plan for the COVID-19.
Suggesting early and “aggressive” measures, the WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Monday, “We have never before seen a respiratory pathogen that is capable of community transmission, but which can also be contained with the right measures.” He, however, said that the countries had the capability to stop transmission and save lives. The use of surgical masks is only helpful for the infected person from spreading it to others. However, there is little evidence that surgical masks can prevent healthy people from transmission in public. Though there is no treatment of coronavirus as no antibiotics can work on the virus. But medical care can treat most symptoms of the virus. After diagnosing, the infected person is suggested to stay away from public places such as schools, shopping centers and childcare etc.
Talking to the scribe, the experts opined that since it has not become epidemic in Pakistan, therefore, neither wearing of masks is needed nor avoidance of meeting with others except perhaps those who had a history of recent visit to China, Afghnistan, Iran or persons with coronavirus positive symptoms. But it is a must to wash hands and keep the surroundings clean on a regular basis for avoiding a number of other diseases including the coronavirus. The coronavirus like dengue attack the immune system of the body leading to pneumonia and other health complications while there was no treatment available for the virus due to its changing shape and structure. However, it is said that the virus could not survive in extreme temperatures; therefore, it would be automatically contained with rising temperature in the country.
—The Author is Journalist based in Islamabad.
