Viral health risks : Advisory on MERS still not finalised

New advisory on prevention measures needed as first Hajj flights depart

ISLAMABAD: The first Hajj flight has already flown to Saudi Arabia. However the federal ministry has yet to finalise an updated advisory on prevention and control of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) Corona virus. This viral disease has caused hundreds of deaths in the Middle East.

The last advisory on the dangerous communicable disease was issued a few months back when the case was first reported in Middle Eastern countries and South Korea.



An official in the National Institute of Health (NIH) who wished not to be named said every year the situation was unique. Hence the advisory needed to be updated accordingly. He said previously the NIH usually issued an advisory before the start of the Hajj season and when pilgrims returned to Pakistan.

The official said that the advisory is issued to the Ministry of Religious Affairs and all provincial health departments. This is to ensure effective implementation of precautionary measures for people travelling to Saudi Arabia and on their return from Hajj.

He said that major focus of the advisory is on educating and creating awareness among pilgrims regarding the disease. They are advised on what precautionary measures to take during travel, while staying there or in the case of experiencing symptoms during the stay. They are also advised on what precautions to take while travelling back to the country, the official said.

They are being asked to avoid unnecessary contact with farm, domestic, wild animals and, especially, camels, he added.

The official said this year the risk of spread of MERS Corona Virus is the same as in previous years. A few cases had been reported in the middle eastern countries thus far, he said. The official said earlier the virus had affected people in Saudi Arabia. This year in June it surfaced in South Korea claiming more than 20 lives and affecting over 150 people. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has already termed MERS a threat to the entire world.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 26^th, 2015.