NE NEWS SERVICE
BEIJING/CHENNAI, JAN 19
China reported four more cases of pneumonia believed to be caused by a new coronavirus strain, causing rising concern globally that a disease health officials do not yet fully understand could spread during a key holiday period.
The new virus, which was discovered in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, belongs in the same large family of coronaviruses that includes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which killed nearly 800 people globally during a 2002/03 outbreak that also started in China.
Though experts say the new virus does not appear to be as lethal as SARS, there is little known about its origins and how easily it can spread. Thailand and Japan have confirmed new cases of the virus earlier this week, stoking worries globally as many of the 1.4 billion Chinese people will travel abroad during the Lunar New Year holidays that begin next week.
Authorities around the world including in the United States, Thailand and South Korea have stepped up monitoring of travellers from Wuhan to prevent the virus from spreading.
The World Health Organization has also warned that a wider outbreak is possible, though it has advised against any travel restrictions for China.
The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission said on Saturday the four new individuals diagnosed with the new virus are in stable condition, adding it has confirmed 45 cases in the city as of Thursday. A day earlier, the commission confirmed the death of a second patient. Nearly 50 people are now known to have been infected globally, but all of them either live in Wuhan or have travelled to the city.
A report published by the London Imperial College’s MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis has estimated that there would be 1,723 cases showing onset of related symptoms by January 12.
Tamil Nadu govt steps up screening at state airports
All passengers arriving at airports in the state will be screened for influenza like symptoms to pick possible cases of new coronavirus identified in China.
Health minister C Vijayabaskar said the state was working to prevent cross-border spread of the new strain and has strengthened health infrastructure and resources to handle emergencies. “We will be doing a routine thermal screening of passengers arriving at our airports. Medical teams are stationed at the airports to help passengers,” he said. Warning signs for the new strain, like other influenza viruses, include fever, cough and breathing difficulties, while more advanced cases could lead to pneumonia, kidney failure and death.
The state has sent available educational material about the virus to doctors’ bodies to ensure they identify cases early. Tests for the new virus will be sent to National Institute of Virology (NIV) lab, officials said. The new strain of coronavirus belongs to the same family as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). “We are told that as of now it has been detected in Wuhan in China. We are being cautious, aware and practising usual precautions. There is no panic as of now,” said state health secretary Beela Rajesh.
Director of public health Dr K Kolandaisamy said although screening is being done by authorities at airports, better benefits have been seen when people with a respiratory illnesses seek medical attention and share travel history with doctors. “Outbreaks of SARS, H1N1 and other such epidemics have seen better outcomes when people seek treatment,” he said.
