India’s First Coronavirus Case Reported in Kerala- Time to Stay Aware

While China is running a race against time to provide enough prevention and cure against the novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), a positive case of the same has been detected in India as well. On Thursday, a woman patient as the first case in Kerala’s Thrissur district was found. She is a student studying at Wuhan University, China and had recently returned to India.

This sudden severity of epidemic has concerned health experts around the globe,  that started in China’s Wuhan city early in 2019 December and has claimed more than 170 lives. 

Recently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared a global emergency over the new coronavirus, as China reported the death toll had climbed to 213 with nearly 10,000 infections. 

According to WHO, the common symptoms of suspects of Coronavirus:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Difficulty in breathing

In more severe cases, cold and cough can turn to pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and even death. The incubation period of the coronavirus remains unknown. It could be between 10 and 14 days.

In recent events, out of 806 people under observation, 10 are in isolation wards in hospitals in Kerala while the rest are in-home quarantine.

Currently, there is no vaccine available to protect against the 2019-novel Coronavirus.

How to protect yourself?

• Prevention is the best way to avoid being exposed to this virus. Wear 3-ply masks.
• Travel related to work or personal reasons for China or affected countries should be avoided. 
• Maintain good personal hygiene. 
• Practice frequent handwashing with soap. 
• Cover your mouth when coughing and sneezing.

The government has also taken a step as the ministry has issued a 24X7 helpline number for any query on coronavirus, which is 91-11-23978046.

What can one do if one has close contact with someone tested positive

• The ideal way is to self-monitor your health starting from the day of the last contact with such a case and continue for 28 days. 
• Check out for the development of acute onset of signs and symptoms: fever, cough, and shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing. 
• If you observe any of the above symptoms, visit the nearest health facility for further advice and treatment. 
• Furnish the details of exposure and get him/her checked of such a patient to your health care worker.

Over to you

A health ministry statement claimed hospitals have prepared isolation wards, preparing for any contingency. Personal protection equipment and masks are available in adequate quantities in all the States and Union Territories as basic prevention.

As a precautionary measure, health authorities in India have placed many people under medical observation. Several airports all over the country have started screening passengers arriving from China for symptoms of coronavirus infection.