The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that the global death rate of the new Coronavirus (Covid-19) is less than 3%.
Coronavirus which was first reported in Wuhan, China, has now spread in more than 67 countries and the percentage of recovered persons is more than 50% that breaks the myth that Coronavirus would kill every infected person.
These views were expressed by University of Karachi (KU) Faculty of Science Dean Prof Dr Tabassum Mahboob. She was speaking at an awareness session on coronavirus that was held at the Aiwan-e-Liaquat at KU.
The session was planned by the KU’s Dr AQ Khan Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering and the Pakistan Biological Safety Association had arranged the awareness session.
There are seven different types of Coronavirus which have been discovered so far while the Covid-19 is the latest disease which has claimed more than 3,100 lives across the world till date.
She informed that five people have been reported as the Covid-19 cases till date and all of them are stable and recovering In Pakistan.
She advised that the simple thing that we need to do is to prepare ourselves for bearing any obvious situation and extend awareness about Coronavirus disease by sharing facts and dismissing rumors.
She said Coronavirus is a type of virus that typically affects the respiratory tract and is associated with the symptoms of common cold, fever, cough, headache, tiredness, and difficulty in breathing. These symptoms are fairly common in many other illnesses such as cold and influenza and having them does not necessarily mean that one has been infected with coronavirus.
The KU science dean briefed the audience that the virus spreads through droplets of saliva/mucous from coughs, sneezes and nasal drip. The symptoms may come out after a period of two to 14 days.
She explained that recovery from Coronavirus depends on the power of the immune system and many of those who died in China had weak immunity. Children and those below the age of 65 are at a lower risk. It has also been observed that countries that have more occurrence of the disease have a colder climate.
She advised that the best way to protect from Covid-19 was to avoid being exposed to the virus by maintaining social distance from people who were sneezing or coughing, and practice respiratory hygiene that includes proper hand washing with soap or sanitisers, covering mouth while coughing and sneezing with a flexed elbow. She also called for eating properly cooked food, avoiding unnecessary antibiotics and vaccines, sleeping well and keeping oneself well-hydrated.
Prof Dr Saima Saleem urged the people not to listen to rumors being disseminated in society and diffuse them by sharing official and authentic data only.
She informed that not every case of flu is the symptom of the Covid-19. The screening of Covid-19 is possible with the help of special kits, which are not available in every hospital. All the patients in Pakistan have recently traveled outside the country and got infected with the virus.
She told that the affected persons have to be kept in isolation for 14 to 20 days so that the disease could not affect others.
She added that a strong immune system could be achieved by maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle and exercising.