The corona virus situation in Pakistan is deteriorating once again and in the last two days, more than 4,000 patients of code 19 are coming to the country once again.
Officials say the fourth wave of Code 19 in the country is caused by the Delta type of virus, which has the potential to spread faster than other types, but government resources are insufficient for this type of corona diagnosis, ie 'genome sequencing'. Are
On the other hand, according to the authorities, the pace of vaccination campaign in the country is not as fast as they had hoped, which is why experts are expressing concern over the fourth wave of corona in Pakistan.
The corona vaccination campaign in Pakistan began in February, and according to official figures, 7.5 percent of the 70 percent target has been vaccinated so far.
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According to Dr. Faisal Sultan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Health, it is not possible to know the exact number of people infected with this type of corona unless genome sequencing is done in large numbers, but 'sequencing is a very expensive task. ۔ '
It is to be noted that on Wednesday, 76 to 76 people were killed in the country while another 4497 people were diagnosed with code 19, which is the highest number of daily victims in a period of about three months.
Genome
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How expensive is genome sequencing?
Dr. Faisal Sultan says that genome sequencing at the National Institute of Health in Islamabad, which is a specific test for the detection of different types of corona virus, costs about Rs 40,000 to Rs 60,000 per sample. It costs up to Rs. And depends on the size of the sample and the equipment to be used.
A senior health official in Islamabad, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there were only nine laboratories across the country where such sequencing could be done, and only four of them were government-run.
However, Pakistan has recently started detecting changing strains of the virus through specific PCR tests. This method is low cost and costs around Rs. 1500 to 3000 per test.
According to Johns Hopkins University, Pakistan is the 31st most affected country in the world by corona virus, with more than one million corona cases reported so far and more than 23,000 deaths.
Although the exact number of people infected with the corona virus delta type across the country is not yet known, it is estimated that more than 100 people have been diagnosed with the corona delta type so far, and the Sindh Health Department told the BBC. "Most of them are from Karachi," he told PTI.
A spokesman for the Sindh Health Department said the number of victims of the Corona Delta could be even higher, which could not be traced due to lack of resources.
"Due to the high cost of genome sequencing, our capacity is limited," he added.
Pakistan
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What is the situation in other provinces of Pakistan?
Speaking to the BBC, Balochistan government spokesman Liaquat Shahwani said that so far 34 cases of Corona delta type have been detected in Balochistan, most of which 19 were confirmed in Gwadar.
Liaqat Shahwani added, "We fear that this type of virus is more prevalent in the Makran area near the Iranian border."
Dr Yasir Yousafzai, Director Public Health, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said that although regular testing for the delta variety had not yet started in the province, three of the 20 samples recently sent to Islamabad for testing were delta type. Has been confirmed.
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"Genetic mutations in the corona virus are making it more contagious but less deadly."
Code 19: In which countries are Pakistani citizens allowed to enter for employment and tourism purposes?
Dr. Yasir added that the third wave of corona in Pakistan was caused by the alpha type of corona virus but this fourth wave is due to the delta type.
However, the Punjab Secretary Primary and Secondary Health Care did not give his position despite repeated requests.
"It is estimated that at least 60 per cent of Islamabad's positive cases are delta-type," said Dr Urooj Hassan, director general of health in Islamabad.
Code
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Different types of code 19 diagnosis in Pakistan
The Delta strain of corona virus was first diagnosed in India in October 2020 and has so far spread to more than 100 countries, according to the World Health Organization, which has led to re-imposition of travel and other restrictions on several countries.
On the other hand, in May, the WHO called it a "worrying type" because it has the potential to spread more quickly and effectively.
In the same month, the first case of Delta type in Pakistan was diagnosed in Karachi and preparations were being made to lift Corona sanctions from the country.
An official of the Sindh Health Department told BBC Urdu that this type of Corona, also known as B.1.617.2, arrived in Karachi, Pakistan from Iraq during a routine check at Karachi Airport. One person was diagnosed.
By this time, Pakistan was moving towards lifting the Corona ban, allowing businesses and offices to resume operations, while allowing food inside restaurants and cinemas at the end of June. Was also allowed to open.
At the same time, the number of positive cases, which had dropped to 663 per day on June 21, gradually increased.
On July 27, Pakistan recorded the highest number of 4,000 positive cases in a single day in more than two months.
Corona in Pakistan
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According to WHO records, a day earlier, Pakistan's 11 major cities had a positive test rate of more than 5 percent, while Karachi had a positive test rate of 26.3 percent.
Finally, Asad Umar, the head of the NCOC, on July 9, attributed the rise in corona cases in Pakistan to the delta type. "There are clear signs of a fourth wave of corona virus in Pakistan," he said in a tweet. Concerns about the corona virus, including the poor implementation of SOPs, are the main reasons for this.
Dr Faisal Sultan told the BBC that since the corona has spread to more than 90 countries around the world, it has come to Pakistan from one of those countries, especially those from which it travels. Transportation is high, such as in Gulf countries.
In addition to the delta type, the alpha type, which was first identified in the UK, and the beta type, which first appeared in South Africa, have been identified in Pakistan.
When the Alpha type was introduced in Pakistan last year, the country was immediately banned from traveling to the UK, although no such travel restrictions have been imposed in the country since the introduction of the Delta type.
Referring to the effects of vaccines available in Pakistan on the types of corona virus, Dr. Faisal Sultan said, "The facts that have come to our notice so far show that the vaccines against corona are the most common. Are proving effective for types.
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