India has reported its first confirmed case of a novel coronavirus in Kerala. The patient is a student studying at Wuhan University, China.
In a statement, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) of India said the student is from Kerala. “The patient has tested positive for novel coronavirus and is in isolation in the hospital. The patient is stable and is being closely monitored,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja has called a meeting with health secretary and other officials from the Directorate of Health Services to take stock of the situation. The minister is expected to address a press conference at 3pm and provide updates on the situation.
The 2019-novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) epidemic that has concerned health experts worldover started in China’s Wuhan city early December last year and has so far claimed more than 170 lives.
In Kerala, one person each from Thrissur, Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta and Malappuram and three from Ernakulam district have been kept in isolation wards of various helath centres, news agency.
As a precautionary measure, health authorities in India have placed many people under medical watch. Various airports in the country have started screening passengers arriving from China for symptoms of coronavirus infection.
