Health officials in Pakistan have confirmed the country’s first case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). A 55-year-old man from Kharian, who had recently returned from a Middle Eastern country on September 3, tested positive for the virus. He was admitted to a private hospital in Jhelum the following day due to breathing and heart problems. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Middle Eastern health authorities informed Pakistan’s National Institute of Health (NIH) about his diagnosis after he had already traveled.
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MERS-CoV is a serious respiratory illness with a mortality rate of about 36%, though this may be higher due to unreported mild cases. Symptoms that can be found are fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. The man was transferred by the doctor to the Benazir Bhutto Hospital in Rawalpindi, where they treated him, and he later recovered and was discharged. Health officials tested over 40 people who had been in contact with him, and all results came back negative. Pakistan quickly enforced strict contact tracing and monitoring to prevent further spread, while the WHO advised against any travel or trade restrictions.
