The Union health ministry has advised caution to those travelling to China, after confirmation of 41 cases and one death due to the novel coronavirus in the city of Wuhan. According to World Health organisation, the situation is "still evolving" and preliminary investigations suggest link to the sea food market. The novel coronavirus is a new strain of virus that has not been previously identified in humans.
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, known to cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The viruses circulate in animals including camels, cats and bats. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can also evolve and infect people. According to the WHO, novel coronaviruses emerge periodically—SARS emerged in 2002, and MERS emerged in 2012. Several coronaviruses are currently circulating in animals and have not infected humans. To protect oneself from the virus, the WHO advises hand hygiene, covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, thoroughly cooking meat and eggs, and avoiding close contact with anyone with respiratory illness, and wild or live farm animals.
The Union health ministry said in a statement that it was "regularly reviewing" the public health preparedness in the country since the news broke out. "As directed by the Health Ministry, meetings of the Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) were convened under the Chairmanship of Director General of Health Services (DGHS) on the 8th and 15th of January with representations from various stakeholders (health and non-health sectors) and the WHO," the statement read. "Public health preparedness is being reviewed on a day-to-day basis and the core capacities to timely detect and manage importation of the nCoV into the country are being strengthened further”, Preeti Sudan, Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, said. The risk at global level is perceived to be "low", she added.
However, as a matter of precaution, the Union ministry of health has instructed screening of international travellers from China at the designated airports of Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata through thermal scanners. In coordination with the Union ministry of civil aviation, in-flight announcements are also being made. A travel advisory has also been issued to the passengers travelling to and from China, and a copy of it is available on the health ministry's website.
The ministry has also issued necessary directions on laboratory diagnosis, surveillance, infection prevention and control and risk communication (IPC). The National Institute of Virology, Pune, is coordinating the testing of samples for nCoV in the country. The hospital preparedness with regard to management and infection prevention control facilities has been also reviewed during high level meetings and advisories, and the IPC Guidelines have been shared with the states, the health ministry said.
