Viral alert: WHO issues alert over MERS import

ISLAMABAD:

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday warned Pakistan that there are high chances of MERS-CoV virus being transported back to the country. The risk increased at the beginning of Hajj season as travel increases to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states.

WHO Country Representative Dr Michel Thieren said, “Pakistan has not yet reported any case of MERS-CoV so far. However it is high time that the country remained fully alert, prepared and vigilant in order to avoid any untoward situation.” He was addressing participants at the concluding session of a two-day meeting on Scaling up Preparedness and Awareness Raising for the MERS-CoV Prevention.

The meeting was held in coordination with the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination (NHSRC) and National Institute of Health (NIH) in order to finalise the updated advisory on control and prevention of MERS-CoV in view of the Hajj season.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th, 2015.