Kerala declares “state calamity” as three patients test positive for coronavirus

NEW DELHI: Kerala Government has declared coronavirus outbreak as a “state calamity” after another student from Kerala who returned from Wuhan in China tested positive for Coronavirus. The student has been admitted to Kanhangad district hospital in Kasaragod.

The first two confirmed cases have also been reported from Kerala. The two patients also had a travel history to Wuhan from where the health hazard was initially reported.

State health minister K.K. Shailaja said the condition of all the 3 patients was stable and they are responding quite well to treatment. She said the government has taken enough steps to restrain secondary infection of the novel virus.

“A special care is needed but there is no need to panic. Isolation is the best way to contain the secondary infection. Both cases are stable and they are responding well to treatment,” she said.

The government had opened hundreds of isolation wards in hospitals across the state. In addition, control rooms have also been set up in all 14 districts and it has also decided to start awareness campaigns in all schools.

According to the latest WHO report, coronavirus has killed 361 people in China so far.

World Health Organization (WHO) declared Coronavirus outbreak as a global health emergency.

“Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people. Detailed investigations found that SARS-CoV was transmitted from civet cats to humans and MERS-CoV from dromedary camels to humans. Several known coronaviruses are circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans,” stated WHO.

Most common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.

Standard recommendations to prevent infection spread include regular hand washing, covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, thoroughly cooking meat and eggs. Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing, said WHO.

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