Pakistan has reported its first case of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus, marking a significant development in the country’s public health landscape. The patient, a 55-year-old tailor from Kharian near Gujrat, had recently returned from Dammam, Saudi Arabia. After arriving in Pakistan on September 3, he was admitted to a private hospital in Jhelum with respiratory and heart issues.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and Saudi health authorities had informed Pakistan’s National Institute of Health (NIH) that the man had tested positive for MERS-CoV before departing Saudi Arabia. Despite this, Pakistani health officials initially withheld the information from the medical staff treating the patient. He was transferred to Benazir Bhutto Hospital in Rawalpindi, where he spent several days in the ICU before making a full recovery.
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Health officials confirmed that more than 40 individuals who had come into contact with the patient were tested for the virus, but all tested negative, preventing further transmission.
MERS-CoV was first identified in 2012 and is primarily transmitted from dromedary camels to humans. It has been reported in 27 countries, with Saudi Arabia accounting for most of the cases. The virus has a high mortality rate of around 36%, but this may be an overestimate due to underreporting of milder cases.
The symptoms of MERS are similar to those of other respiratory infections, including fever, cough, and breathing difficulties. The virus is particularly dangerous for individuals with preexisting conditions such as diabetes or chronic lung disease. Early detection is key to preventing its spread, especially in healthcare settings where delays in isolating patients can lead to human-to-human transmission.
