FM confirms no Pakistani in China infected with coronavirus

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mehmood Qureshi has confirmed that no Pakistani in China has been infected with the coronavirus. In a statement, Shah Mehmood Qureshi asked the Pakistani community residing in China should not to get worried as all precautionary measures are being taken. “We are in constant contact with our Embassy in Beijing,” he added. FM Qureshi asked the non-registered Pakistani students to get registered with Embassy. A day earlier, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza confirmed that no patient was diagnosed coronavirus in Pakistan. Ina an exclusive talk with 92 News, the special assistant reacted after the reports of five suspected coronavirus cases surfaced in Pakistan. He said that the report regarding the diagnosis of the first case of the coronavirus strain in Pakistan was incorrect. “We follow the protocol and taking the suspected patients into the under superviosion and nobody can enter in Pakistan without any screening test,” Dr Zafar Mirze said maintained. “The Chinese kept in isolation in Nishtar Hospital, Multan is improving. No signs of sever acute respiratory infection. He is being managed in line with standard protocol as a suspect. Alhamdolilah, Pakistan does not have any coronavirus patient until now, and we are alert!” he tweeted.  

173/ A part of media is INCORRECTLY reporting about diagnosis of a first case of novel corona virus in Pakistan. We expect responsible reporting by media. Please do not add to nation’s anxiety about nCoronavirus and should meticulously check facts before reporting. Thank you !!

— Zafar Mirza (@zfrmrza) January 25, 2020

  National Institute of Health (NIH) chief Major General Dr Aamer Ikram also 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. He 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. “His clinical condition is stable now and its does not seem to be a case of the novel coronavirus,” he added.

Five suspected coronavirus cases surfaced in Pakistan

In the media reports, 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. In Lahore, three Chinese nationals were admitted to the Services Hospital and shifted to the isolation ward. According to hospital sources, the suspected patients were residents of the Chinese city of Wuhan and had recently arrived in Lahore. “They came to the hospital complaining of chest pain, fever, flu and cough,” a senior doctor at the hospital. “They were shifted to isolation ward and their blood samples were collected. These samples will be sent for confirmation.” 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.

28,000 Pakistani students in China

According to the foreign ministry, there are 28,000 Pakistani students in China. Around 800 Pakistan traders are living in China and 1,500 others frequently travel there. Over 500 students are studying in the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the pathogen first emerged. The virus has killed 41 people in China and infected more than 1,300 globally. It has been detected in Japan, Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore and the United States. Pakistan will approach the authorities in China and The Netherlands to help confirm suspected cases of passengers arriving in the country.