The coronavirus outbreak

The recent coronavirus crisis seems to have escalated fairly quickly with the number of deaths increasing by the day. As many as 13 cities in China and about 36 million people there are in a lockdown while around 1,400 cases have been reported worldwide as of Saturday. The virus has not only spread to neighbouring countries but Europe and America have also reported a few cases. Affected countries include Thailand, Singapore, Japan, the US, South Korea, Vietnam, France and Nepal. Worldwide, government officials have introduced precautionary and screening measures at airports and travel routes while health officials scramble to find a cure.

Chinese health authorities say that the virus originated from a seafood market in Wuhan where wildlife are sold illegally and consumed as delicacies. The virus belongs to the same family as the SARS and MARS, and is transmitted through the respiratory system but the rest is still unknown. Even though WHO has not yet labelled this outbreak as a global health emergency, if health authorities do not act fast this may very well turn into one.

Truth be told, China is struggling to contain the virus and, ironically, global help is needed to fight and contain it. While most countries have closed transport and travel routes to the country, Pakistan needs to follow suit, as the chances of the virus spreading are high. As it stands, one suspected case of a Chinese man in Multan has emerged and test samples are to be sent to international labs for confirmation.

The CPEC corridor, therefore, needs to be strictly monitored, if not closed. Apart from stepping up screening measures of all international flights at airports, especially those from China, local doctors need to be in constant contact with international health officials regarding the situation so as to better understand and detect it. If, God forbid, the virus does spread to Pakistan there is not much we can do. No labs in Pakistan are equipped to diagnose the virus and as it is medical conditions in the country are deplorable. It is better to be safe than to be sorry.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 26^th, 2020.

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