Health Ministry confirms second case of coronavirus in Kerala
Three days after India's first case of coronavirus was reported in Kerala, the southern state has reported a second case of the viral infection. The Union Health Ministry on Sunday confirmed the second case of coronavirus in Kerala. The patient reportedly had a travel history to China, where the viral outbreak originated. The coronavirus outbreak has claimed 305 lives, mostly in China.
Patient is stable, being closely monitored: Health Ministry
A statement from the Health Ministry read, "The second positive case of Novel Coronavirus patient has been reported in Kerala. The patient has travel history from China. The patient is stable and is being closely monitored." According to NDTV, the patient is said to have returned to India from January 24. Earlier on Thursday, India reported its first coronavirus case, also from Kerala.
Kerala student studying in Wuhan was first diagnosed with coronavirus
On Thursday, a medical student studying in the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, was diagnosed with coronavirus. The student has been quarantined at a hospital in Thrissur. She is said to be recovering fast.
We are well prepared with multi-level surveillance: Kerala Health Minister
Reportedly, over 800 people have been placed under surveillance at their homes in Kerala to contain the outbreak. Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja said earlier this week, "We are well prepared with multi-level surveillance, support systems on the ground. A 28-day home quarantine is crucial." Meanwhile, the Health Ministry has urged people with travel history to China since January 1 to self-report to authorities.
India evacuates second batch of citizens from Wuhan
Meanwhile, on Sunday morning, the second batch of Indian nationals was evacuated from Wuhan. A special Air India jumbo B747 airlifted 323 Indians stuck in Wuhan along with seven Maldivian citizens. The flight is bound for Delhi. Four Indians could not board the flight since they had high temperatures, Indian Ambassador to China, Vikram Misri, said. On Saturday, India evacuated 324 Indians from Wuhan.
25 Indians chose to stay back, says Misri
Notably, on the Saturday flight, six Indians were off-loaded due to high temperatures. They were stopped by Chinese immigration officials and may undergo a quarantine. Misri told PTI that 25 other Indians chose to stay back, adding that 100 others could still be in Hubei. Meanwhile, those evacuated on Saturday were brought to Delhi where they will face a 14-day quarantine in special camps.
What is the coronavirus outbreak?
First detected in mid-December in Wuhan, the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) or "Wuhan Coronavirus" has infected over 14,000 people worldwide, with 99% cases witnessed in China alone. The virus impacts a host's respiratory faculties causing flu-like symptoms and in severe cases, pneumonia, multiple organ failure, and death. The viral infection has killed 304 in China and one in the Philippines.
