Coronavirus; India screens over 9000 passengers
With the outbreak of coronavirus, a new strain of virus in China, India also began taking precautionary measures to identify the presence of the virus. According to the Union Health Ministry, a total of more than 9000 passengers from 43 flights was screened for the virus at seven identified airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. Signages have also been put up at prominent locations in these airports to encourage the public about self-reporting of illness. Immigration officers manning the counters have been sensitized at these airports.
“Till now, no case has been detected through these screening efforts. We are on alert and our preparedness is sturdy,” said Preeti Sudan, secretary, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. As per PTI report, Sudan further said the Indian Embassy in China had been regularly providing the health ministry with updates on the status of the infected cases in that country. The ministry has also issued an advisory for those travelling to and from China.
The National Institute of Virology, Pune, is all prepared to test samples of nCoV. Ten other laboratories under the Indian Council of Medical Research’s Viral Research and Diagnostics Laboratories network are also equipped to test such samples if a need arises.
Almost 17 people in China have died due to the disease, despite efforts to control it and nearly 600 people have been reported globally infected, mostly in China. To assess whether the outbreak constitutes a public health emergency of international concern and recommend measures to contain it, the WHO is currently convening an emergency meeting on the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
According to the WHO, coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are known to cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Rarely, animal coronaviruses can also evolve and infect people.
Symptoms depend on the strain of the virus. However, common signs include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, it can cause pneumonia and severe acute respiratory syndrome. There is no specific treatment for disease caused by a novel coronavirus. However, many of the symptoms can be treated and treatment is based on the patient’s clinical condition.
The WHO recommends measures such as washing hands thoroughly, covering mouth and nose with a tissue or a sleeve or flexed elbow when coughing or sneezing, avoiding close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms, thoroughly cooking meat and eggs and avoiding unprotected contact with wild or farm animals to protect ourselves from the symptoms.
Source: The Week, The Indian Express
Image: India Today