Pakistan & Covid-19 Pandemic: An Epidemiological & Public Health Approach
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background: The zoonotic infections have posed a significant risk to the public health security. Initially the Covid-19 outbreak started as a zoonotic infection, in Wuhan, in December 2019, but later on due to human to human transmission resulted in Covid-19 pandemic.
Objectives: To identify the Covid-19 pandemic trends in Pakistan and to compare with global Covid-19 Statistics.
Study Design: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted by the Department of Community Medicine North West School of Medicine, Hayatabad, Peshawar, with collaboration of Lady Ready Hospital, and Khyber Medical College, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan; from March 2020 to May 2020.
Methodology: In this study, the secondary data available online was retrieved on 5th April 2020 from the WHO and Pakistan websites for identification of Covid-19 infections trends. Moreover, comparison of monthly statistics of five provinces of Pakistan i.e. Baluchistan, Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit-Baltistan; and its two territories i.e. Islamabad Capital Territory, and Azad Jammu & Kashmir, were analyzed and compared with epidemiological parameters of Covid-19.
Results: Globally, the number of new confirmed cases of Covid-19 is increasing and the Covid-19 pandemic is spreading with full zeal. The current Covid-19 pandemic proved more fatal due to high infectivity and deaths as compared previous zoonotic pandemics; and thus may be attributed to relaxation in the smart lockdown and opening of institutions, which favors the transmission of Covid-19.
Conclusion: The number of new confirmed cases throughout the globe and Pakistan is increasing and poses a significant risk to the public health security. The current Covid-19 pandemic resulted in public health insecurity and thus a holistic and comprehensive strategy regarding development of health policy and planning is needed to contain and halt such pandemics in future.