Alappuzha: Kerala Health Minister K K Shailaja confirmed the second case of coronavirus from the state on Sunday. However, she emphasised that there is no need to fear and advised everyone to follow the guidelines issued by the government strictly.
The Union Health Ministry had first confirmed on Sunday that one more person from Kerala has contracted the coronavirus. The Kerala government was waiting for results from the the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, to give the confirmation. The patient is being closely monitored.
The minister also said that instead of sending samples to Pune and wait for results, arrangements have been made for the tests to be done at the virology lab in Alappuzha itself.
"The testing of samples has started here and this will speed up things," Shailaja said.
Both patients were among the students from Wuhan University who returned to India from China on January 24. The two were seated next to each other in the flight from Wuhan.
The second patient is currently at the isolation ward in Alappuzha Medical College.
The minister while allaying fears over the coronavirus threat, stressed on high vigil to prevent infection as it is difficult to contain once the virus spreads.
Regular checks and monitoring are on. Help desks have been set up at all airports in the state. Precautions on the lines taken during Nipah outbreak is necessary, Shylaja noted.
Those who are under observation should not go out without informing the health department, she warned.
Those who returned from China after January 1 should report to government hospitals and refrain from attending public events, the state health department urged.
Though the incubation period recommended by the centre is 14 days, Kerala being a densely populated state is observing a 28 day incubation period, the Health Minister said.
The first patient, who is currently at an isolation ward in Thrissur Medical College, spoke to her relatives on Sunday. The test results of the second sample from the patient is expected to reach on Monday.
In a fresh set of instructions, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that testing of only one swab sample is enough, as against the earlier two, in suspected novel coronavirus cases.
The new WHO instructions will ensure faster testing of samples which will quicken the fight against the 2019-nCoV outbreak.
A total of 1,999 people are under observation in Kerala. As many as 75 individuals are in isolation wards of various hospitals across Kerala. Remaining 1,924 people are quarantined at their respective homes. In Alappuzha district alone 124 people are under observation.
India on Sunday airlifted a second batch of 323 stranded Indians and seven Maldivian citizens from China's coronavirus-hit Wuhan city, taking the total number of people evacuated to 654, Indian officials said.
Novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a large family of viruses that causes illnesses ranging from common cold to acute respiratory syndromes.
The novel coronavirus started in Hubei province of China and has since spread to several countries, including two positive cases in India, both in the southern state of Kerala.
Outside China, Hong Kong and Macau, other countries with confirmed cases include Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, South Korea, Japan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Canada, the United States, United Arab Emirates, Australia, France and Germany.
If in distress, call 0471-2552056.
