ISLAMABAD: The National Institute of Health has issued advisory on Pneumonia outbreak due to novel coronavirus in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China.

The objective of the advisory is to alert and sensitize the health staff at border posts as well as in healthcare institutions of Pakistan to stay vigilant about any suspected cases coming from affected areas for an early detection.

A recent surge of pneumonia cases, associated with the novel coronavirus, has been reported in China.

The Chines authorities have notified more than 200 confirmed human infections and cases have also been reported in Thailand, Japan, and South Korea.

Also Read: China cautions virus may spread as death toll hits 9

This situation has urged the neighbouring countries to enhance their surveillance and vigilance for response in case of detection.

The NIH is accordingly monitoring the situation and will keep all stakeholders updated.

China has cautioned that a SARS-like virus could mutate and spread with the death toll rising to 26 and the number of cases crossing 800 across the country.

The coronavirus is transmitted through the respiratory tract and there is “the risk of viral mutation and further spread of the disease,” vice minister of the National Health Commission Li Bin had said during a news conference on Jan 22.

The commission had announced measures to contain the disease as hundreds of millions of people travelled throughout the country for the Lunar New Year holiday this week, including disinfection and ventilation at airports, train stations and shopping centers.

“When needed, temperature checks will also be implemented in key areas at crowded places,” the commission had said in a statement.