Body formed in Punjab: Health department issues alert to deal with coronavirus threat

While the health department has issued alert to deal with coronavirus threat, the Punjab government has constituted an eight-member cabinet committee for taking protective measures in the province. Punjab Minister for Health Dr Yasmin Rashid has been named as head of the committee which will monitor situation in hospitals and pay particular attention to patients suspected of contracting the deadly virus.

As per notification issued by the government, the committee will interact with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other international agencies for keeping instant updates of the situation. The cabinet committee will also set up a policy concerning the screening process, prevention measures for the coronavirus, arrangements of relevant medicines and a seminar for raising awareness among the public. The committee will hold meetings on daily basis to prevent its possible spread in the province.

The University of Health Sciences (UHS) has formed a six-member committee for diagnosis of coronavirus that has spread alarm among health authorities. The team will conduct RT-PCR (Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) for suspected patients for the detection of 2019-Novel coronavirus.

UHS VC Prof Javed Akram said the UHS would extend full support to the government in optimizing PCR test facilities for diagnosis of coronavirus. Dr Shah Jahan is the convener of the committee.

RT-PCR is a laboratory technique combining reverse transcription of RNA into DNA (in this context called complementary DNA or cDNA) and amplification of specific DNA targets using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).[1]. It is primarily used to measure the amount of a specific RNA.

Health experts said that new outbreaks of coronavirus are worrying, but give us opportunities to improve our preparation for the next threat, be that through research, or an understanding that communication is as essential to disease control as handwashing and vaccines.

UHS Vice Chancellor Prof Javed Akram said that new strain of coronavirus, a family of pathogens that cause respiratory illness in birds and mammals, has jumped species and infected humans. As the pneumonia-causing virus has triggered a health scare in China, it would be sensible to be concerned. But, we must take care not to overreact to the developing situation, he advised.

Prof Javed Akram said that wudu (ablution) was the most effective preventive measure against coronavirus. He said that Islamic concept of Hilal and our traditional way of cooking food minimized the risk of getting infected with the virus. He further said that as compared to common masks available in market, N95 masks had proved more effective in prevention.

He said that people must frequently wash their hands with an alcohol-based hand rub, or warm water and soap, cover their mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue when sneezing or coughing, avoid close contact with anyone who has a fever or cough, seek early medical help if they have a fever, cough, and difficulty in breathing, and share their travel history with healthcare providers; avoid direct, unprotected contact with live animals and surfaces in contact with animals when visiting live markets in affected areas; avoid eating raw or undercooked animal products and exercise care when handling raw meat, milk, or animal organs to avoid cross-contamination with uncooked foods, he added.