China's mysterious coronavirus: Govt issues health advisory.

ISLAMABAD -- The National Institute of Health (NIH) on Wednesday issued an advisory on pneumonia outbreak owing to 'novel coronavirus' in a Chinese city, sensitising health staff at border posts as well as healthcare institutions across the country to stay vigilant about suspected cases coming from affected areas for an early detection.

A recent surge in pneumonia cases, associated with the virus, has been reported in China, it said, adding the Chinese authorities have notified more than 200 confirmed human infections and cases have also been reported in Thailand, Japan, and South Korea.

'This situation has urged the neighbouring countries to enhance their surveillance and vigilance for response in case of detection,' read the advisory, adding the NIH is accordingly monitoring the situation and will keep all stakeholders updated.

Citing preliminary epidemiological investigation, it said most cases have either 'worked at or were handlers and frequent visitors to the Huanan Seafood and Meat wholesale Market.'

Explaining how the coronavirus is transmitted, the advisory said: 'This is a zoonotic disease and primary causes of infections in human are through contact with infected animals, and animal products (needs to be confirmed). Substantial evidences are also suggestive of human to human transmission as secondary infections (confirmed by Chinese authorities).

It said no vaccine or specific treatment for 2019-nCoV infection is yet available as the patient care is mainly supportive.

A person with severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) with history of fever and/or cough and/or difficulty breathing and with history of travel to Wuhan or any other...