Government, private hospitals alerted to check for coronavirus

Coronavirus, is a new strain of virus that causes illness similar to influenza in the beginning, such as common cold, but can lead to other respiratorydiseases such as middle-east respiratory syndrome (MERS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

After at least 41 cases surfaced in China, Japan and Nepal, there is a risk of coronavirus in other parts of Asia. Following the risk, the Health Ministry issued an advisory to follow certain precautionary measures while travelling to China.

Health Minister C Vijaya Baskar said that an advisory has been sent to government hospitals in order to ensure early identification of any suspected cases of coronavirus. The state Health Department along with district healthcare officials have initiated screening of the passengers at the Chennai airport using thermal scanners and people with cough, fever and flu-like symptoms are being checked for further investigations. “The laboratory tests are being conducted for the patients who are suspected to have flu-like illness.

The passengers coming from China, Japan and Nepal are being screened to look for any possible risk of infections,” said public health director Dr K Kolandaisamy.

Government hospital doctors say that flu like illness are being reported across the state, thus all such cases are being investigated for the presence of virus also. However, there has been no alert from the airport healthcare officials regarding any passenger who need extensive investigation due to the risk of virus.