Suspected coronavirus cases spark nationwide concern

With the deadly coronavirus claiming at least 80 lives in China, fears have intensified in India as well, with a few suspected cases being reported from Rajasthan, Bihar, and even neighbouring Nepal.

New Delhi:A few suspected cases of coronavirus have been reported from various states across India, which have sparked nationwide concerns about the virus, which has led to at least 80 deaths in China.

Suspected case of coronavirus in Jaipur, patient in isolation

A suspected case of coronavirus was reported in Rajasthan's Jaipur, following which the patient has been kept in isolation. A doctor, who returned to India after completing the MBBS course in China, was suspected of being affected by coronavirus, officials said on January 26.

Directions have been given to conduct a screening of all the family members of the patient, whose blood sample has been sent to the National Virology Laboratory in Pune.

A total of 18 people from four districts of the state had returned to the country from China and the respective district chiefs and medical officers have been directed to keep them under surveillance for 28 days.

Read: Suspected coronavirus patient admitted in Jaipur hospital

Bihar woman suspected of being affected by virus

A 29-year-old MBBS graduate, who returned to India after completing her studies in China on 22 January, was kept in an isolated ward of the Chapra Sadar Hospital in Bihar on suspicion of being affected by coronavirus. She was later referred to the Patna Medical College and Hospital for further tests.

The Bihar health department has advised the airport authority to monitor passengers from Northeast Asia arriving at Gaya Airport. The department has also has issued instructions to all District Health and Family Welfare Officers and all government doctors to be vigilant in this matter.

Read: Coronavirus knocks Bihar, Health Department issues advisory

Doctor flying in from China admitted to Hyderabad hospital

A doctor from China who came to Hyderabad was admitted to the hospital with cough and cold symptoms, and his samples sent to Virology Laboratory in Pune, officials said on January 26.

Four other people were also taken to the hospital on Sunday, and are being closely monitored.

Health officials in Telangana have started focussing on containment, including active surveillance, early detection, isolation, case management, contact tracing and prevention of onward spread of the virus.

Read: Coronavirus outbreak: Chinese patient admitted to hospital in Hyderabad

Two test negative in Mumbai, to remain in isolation

Two persons, who had travelled to China and were admitted to a civic hospital in Mumbai for possible exposure to novel coronavirus, were tested negative for the infection, while the blood sample of another person was sent for testing to NIV in Pune, officials said on January 25.

The two persons will continue to be kept under observation at the isolation ward till further notice.

Over 150 under surveillance in Kerala

As on January 25, 179 people were under home surveillance and seven were in various hospitals. One person each from Thrissur, Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta and Malappuram and three from Ernakulam are in the isolation wards of various health centres in the state, a senior health official of the Kerala government confirmed.

Coronavirus scare in east UP due to case in Nepal

The first case of the deadly coronavirus reported from Nepal, has led to a scare in eastern Uttar Prdesh, particularly Gorakhpur, because of its proximity to Nepal and the heavy traffic flow across the porous border.

Gorakhpur, which is close to Indo-Nepal border, has a sizeable population that commutes daily to Nepal through Sunauli and Badhni borders. Steps have already been initiated for screening of the virus at the airport, but experts believe that health check-up along the open border is more important to check the entry of infection to India.

Read: Novel Coronavirus reaches Indo-Nepal border