The district health authority of Rawalpindi Wednesday confirmed that no case of Ebola virus had been detected in the district yet although the Health Department had its eyes open.
Meanwhile, the administration of Benazir Bhutto International (BBI) had installed Ebola detection scanner at the international arrival lounge to scan the in-coming passengers from rest of the world with special regard to the African countries besides USA, Canada, Saudi Arabia and UAE.
Rawalpindi District Health Officer (DHO) Dr Javed Iqbal said the Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination has issued an advisory to provincial governments to take precautionary measures against Ebola disease and in sequel to that, necessary precautionary measures have been put in place.
However, he expressed the hope that the deadly virus can hardly reach Pakistan as the number of travellers from affected countries to Pakistan is relatively meagre.
“The virus is currently causing havoc in four West African countries and other than Pakistani troops, no Pakistani normally visits those countries nor do people from there come here, so the outbreak of the disease is not expected in Pakistan.”
He added that Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is a severe acute viral illness often characterized by the sudden onset of fever, intense weakness, muscular pain, headache and sore throat. This is followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding. Laboratory findings include low white blood cell and platelet counts and elevated liver enzymes.
