Minister quashes claims of Pakistani students contracting coronavirus in China
Zafar Mirza urges Pakistani students in China to register with Embassy
PHOTO: AFP
Minister of State Zafar Mirza on Sunday confirmed that no Pakistani student in Wuhan City had contracted coronavirus.
In a tweet, Mirza reassured families of over 500 Pakistani students in the Chinese city where the virus had originated. “No case of coronavirus among them [Pakistanis students] and our Embassy is actively in touch with them.”
Mirza said the Pakistani students in China had been informed about the protective measures. “They should follow the instructions and be patient,” he said.
The minister urged students to get registered with the Pakistani Embassy in Beijing.
“Be assured we are closely monitoring the situation,” he emphasised.
Furthermore, the health minister pointed out that the National Institute of Health (NIH) has latest molecular level testing for MERS-CoV, SARS, coronavirus (four varieties), Influenza A&B, RSV and Adenovirus.
“Currently we are ruling out these on suspected samples,” he said. “For novel Coronavirus primers are being procured. It may take three to four days.”
No lab in Pakistan can test for coronavirus
China on Sunday expanded drastic travel restrictions to contain a viral contagion that has killed 56 people and infected nearly 2,000, as the United States and France prepared to evacuate their citizens from a quarantined city at the outbreak's epicentre.
China has locked down the hard-hit province of Hubei in the country's centre in an unprecedented operation affecting tens of millions of people to slow the spread of a respiratory illness that President Xi Jinping said posed a "grave" threat.
Outside the epicentre, three cities, including Beijing, and an eastern province announced bans on long-distance buses from entering or leaving their borders.
Originating in Hubei's capital of Wuhan, the virus has spread throughout China and around the world, with cases confirmed in around a dozen countries as distant as France, Australia and the United States.
The World Health Organisation puts the number of confirmed cases reported from mainland China at 1,975. “This includes 324 severe cases and 56 people who have died,” the WHO added.
Pakistan on alert over deadly China virus
Meanwhile, NIH on Saturday clarified that there were no confirmed cases of coronavirus in Pakistan as four Chinese nationals have been admitted to hospitals in Multan and Lahore and showing symptoms of the disease.
NIH chief Major General Dr Aamer Ikram said a suspected patient had been admitted to the Nishtar Hospital, Multan and kept in the isolation ward after he showed symptoms of the disease including flu, cough and fever.
According to sources, the Chinese national travelled from China to Dubai and reached Karachi on January 21. After landing in Karachi, he took a flight to Multan.
In a tweet, Mirza reassured families of over 500 Pakistani students in the Chinese city where the virus had originated. “No case of coronavirus among them [Pakistanis students] and our Embassy is actively in touch with them.”
Mirza said the Pakistani students in China had been informed about the protective measures. “They should follow the instructions and be patient,” he said.
The minister urged students to get registered with the Pakistani Embassy in Beijing.
“Be assured we are closely monitoring the situation,” he emphasised.
Furthermore, the health minister pointed out that the National Institute of Health (NIH) has latest molecular level testing for MERS-CoV, SARS, coronavirus (four varieties), Influenza A&B, RSV and Adenovirus.
“Currently we are ruling out these on suspected samples,” he said. “For novel Coronavirus primers are being procured. It may take three to four days.”
No lab in Pakistan can test for coronavirus
China on Sunday expanded drastic travel restrictions to contain a viral contagion that has killed 56 people and infected nearly 2,000, as the United States and France prepared to evacuate their citizens from a quarantined city at the outbreak's epicentre.
China has locked down the hard-hit province of Hubei in the country's centre in an unprecedented operation affecting tens of millions of people to slow the spread of a respiratory illness that President Xi Jinping said posed a "grave" threat.
Outside the epicentre, three cities, including Beijing, and an eastern province announced bans on long-distance buses from entering or leaving their borders.
Originating in Hubei's capital of Wuhan, the virus has spread throughout China and around the world, with cases confirmed in around a dozen countries as distant as France, Australia and the United States.
The World Health Organisation puts the number of confirmed cases reported from mainland China at 1,975. “This includes 324 severe cases and 56 people who have died,” the WHO added.
Pakistan on alert over deadly China virus
Meanwhile, NIH on Saturday clarified that there were no confirmed cases of coronavirus in Pakistan as four Chinese nationals have been admitted to hospitals in Multan and Lahore and showing symptoms of the disease.
NIH chief Major General Dr Aamer Ikram said a suspected patient had been admitted to the Nishtar Hospital, Multan and kept in the isolation ward after he showed symptoms of the disease including flu, cough and fever.
According to sources, the Chinese national travelled from China to Dubai and reached Karachi on January 21. After landing in Karachi, he took a flight to Multan.