China, the second-largest economy of the world, is braving a very serious and alarming situation due to the newly identified Coronavirus. According to Aljazeera, “This developed as China’s health commission reported on Friday that the confirmed cases of infection have reached 9,692.”
The death toll has risen to 213. China is the major victim of this virus, but some cases have also been reported in other countries. As many as 14 cases were reported from Japan, 14 from Thailand, 13 from Singapore, nine from Australia, nine from Taiwan, one from Sri Lanka, one from Cambodia, five from Vietnam, five from Germany, six from France, six from the US, seven from South Korea, one from India, one from Nepal, one from Finland, one from Philippines, eight from Malaysia, four from the UAE, three from Canada, two from Italy and two from the UK. Because of the expansion of this virus to other countries and due to the increase in death rate, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared a “Coronavirus global emergency.”
It is a new kind of virus that was identified by the Chinese authorities on January 7, 2020. The virus started from a seafood market situated at Wuhan, where, according to some sources, wildlife animals were being illegally smuggled. As for as causes of the virus are concerned, the Lancet Medical Journal published a report of a detailed analysis of 99 patients in this regard, which was quoted by BBC. According to that analysis, most of the Coronavirus patients suffered from the lung assault. The report stated, “All of the 99 patients taken to the hospital had pneumonia – their lungs were inflamed and the tiny sacs where oxygen moves from the air to the blood were filling with water. Other symptoms were: 82 had a fever, 81 had a cough, 31 had shortness of breath, 11 had muscle ache, nine had confusion, eight had a headache, and five had a sore throat.”
The affected people were mostly men above 50 years of age. Many people who already had some kind or other disease were also found to be suffering from this virus. The New England Journal of Medicine published a study based on data for the first 425 confirmed cases in Wuhan. According to this study, ” Of the 425, 55% diagnosed before 1 January were linked to the seafood and animal market believed to be at the centre of the outbreak, compared with 8.6% of the subsequent cases.
-The average age was 59 years and 56% were men.
-Almost half the 425 cases were adults 60 years of age or older.
– Human-to-human transmission among close contacts has occurred since the middle of December.
– In its early stages, the epidemic doubled in size every seven days.
– 89% of the patients were not hospitalized until at least day five of illness.”
It is very unfortunate that neither China nor any other country has a vaccine to curb Coronavirus at this stage because it is a recent phenomenon the world over. The only way yet being used to curb the situation is to isolate the patients of this virus. It is a transmittable virus, which mainly transmits from animals to human beings. In this regard, “According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as SARS and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). These viruses were originally transmitted between animals and people. SARS, for instance, was believed to have been transmitted from civet cats to humans while MERS travelled from a type of camel to humans.”
The government of Pakistan is not making sufficient efforts to secure its citizens living in China these days
Wuhan is the majorly affected area in China, but the virus is expanding to other cities of the country as well. The major reason behind the expansion of the virus to other cities of China and as well as other countries is the return of anyone from China, specifically from Wuhan. Therefore, all airlines and road transportations are sealed off from and to Wuhan. However, despite such a miserable condition, it is very encouraging that the Chinese government and the people of the whole China are working very hard to help and cure virus-affected people as well as to stop the expansion/transmission of coronavirus.
I have been a witness to the dedication and hard work of Chinese people when I did my PhD from Shanghai University (2016-2019). I always have been giving credit to people of China that they always set examples of diligence, cooperation and showing love to each other. Likewise, currently, when a major chunk of the Chinese population is under a severe attack of coronavirus, every Chinese, regardless of position-whether government officials or common citizens of the country-is standing with the people of Wuhan and all other cities/provinces wherever the virus has attacked.
On the other hand, unfortunately, the government of Pakistan, especially the ministry of foreign affairs, is not making sufficient efforts to secure the citizens, especially students of Pakistan, living in China these days. A friend of mine, who, along with his some friends, travelled a long way from Xian to Urumqi so that he could be repatriated to Pakistan. But, unfortunately, they are all still stuck at Urumqi airport because the flights from China to Pakistan have been suspended. He told me through social media that neither the airport authorities allowed them to reach the Pakistan-China border near Gilgit-Baltistan, nor are they allowing them to go back to Xian, where at least they could live at their university. They have tried to contact the concerned authorities in Pakistan as well as the officials of foreign offices of Pakistan in China but did not receive any positive response.
According to Pakistan government officials, they are not making any effort to repatriate Pakistani students because it is in the larger interests of Pakistan that they (students) remain in China until the virus problem is resolved. It is, indeed, a worse situation that few Pakistani students had even graduated and their visas have also expired. Hence, they cannot be allowed to remain in their universities anymore. And, they also cannot be allowed to return to their country, Pakistan, due to such a miserable condition.
In this very critical situation, in which China is suffering, the entire international community has stood with China. This is a vivid example of global solidarity that the world offers its possible support to China in curing and curbing coronavirus. It is also a fact that if students from China return to Pakistan, the possibility of Coronavirus attack cannot be ignored, for which taking precautions is the need of time. One case has recently been reported in Kerala, India, where a student who returned from Wuhan has been found to be infected. Yet, the Pakistan government must take proper measures to secure and protect Pakistani students. If not repatriating them, at least, they should offer them all possible help so that they remain safe there.
In the last, I, being a PhD graduate from China, and a citizen of Pakistan, show my sympathy and solidarity with the people of China and all international citizens/ students, including students of Pakistan stuck there as well. Although showing solidarity and praying for anyone is a good sign, it is not enough until the relevant authorities play their active role. Hence, once again, I must say that the Pakistan government should realise its responsibility. It must try to secure all students of Pakistan in China, especially in Wuhan.
The writer has a PhD in Global Studies from the College of Liberal Arts, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China, and is an Islamabad-based independent researcher