India on Thursday reported its first positive case of novel coronavirus (nCoV) on Thursday. The Union ministry of health and family welfare in an official statement said a student from Kerala, who was studying in Wuhan University and traveled to India, has tested positive for the virus.
“The patient has tested positive for novel coronavirus and is in isolation at the hospital. The patient is stable and is being closely monitored, “the statement said.
The Indian government has said it is prepared to handle any outbreak in the country. “Thermal screening sensors are operational and few more such equipment are being procured. The immigration and other staff members at the airports have been sensitized and dedicated ambulances are placed. Deployment of medical & para-medical staff is also being done for round-the-clock service, “an official statement said.” Hospitals have prepared isolation wards, preparing for any contingency. Personal protection equipments and masks are available in adequate quantity in all the States / UTs. “
According to the ministry, Indian states and union territories have started thermal and symptomatic screening of passengers at all the 21 identified airports.
Cornavirus death toll in China climbed to 132 on Thursday, a sharp jump from the 170 on Wednesday, according to information on a real-time tracking portal being maintained by John Hopkins University. As of Thursday, confirmed cases numbered 7, 2005 across the world, with as many as 7, 678 in mainland China.
So far, 68 countries, besides China, have reported a total of 68 confirmed cases, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
“Human coronaviruses can cause mild disease similar to a common cold, while others more severe disease (such as MERS, SARS). Some coronaviruses that are found in animals can infect humans – these are known as zoonotic diseases, “said Jugal Kishore, director professor & head of department-community medicine, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College (VMMC) and Safdarjung Hospital (Ministry of Health & Family Welfare ), New Delhi.
“As there is no vaccine or drug available against the virus, the cases are being managed according to their symptomatology. NCoV is fatal but exact fatality is not estimated and how virus will behave in the new population is also not known. Therefore, prevention and strict surveillance is very important in India, “he said.
The Ministry of Ayush has also come up with an advisory to boost immunity to keep any illness at bay in wake of the spread of coronavirus across the world.
The Emergency Committee on the novel coronavirus (11580371997746 – nCoV) under the International Health Regulations (IHR ) will be reconvened by WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Thursday to consider declaring a global public health emergency. The committee will advise on recommendations to manage the outbreak.
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