MERS,in Saudi, not 2019nCov

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Kerala nurse found positive for coronavirus suffers from MERS-CoV, not 2019-NCoV 
PTI | Published: 24th January 2020 12:51 AM

For representational purposes (File Photo | AP)

NEW DELHI/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: An Indian nurse working at a hospital in Saudi Arabia tested positive for coronavirus when she and nearly 100 of her Indian colleagues, mostly from Kerala, were screened, the government said on Thursday.

The affected nurse is being treated at the Aseer National Hospital and is recovering well, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said.

ALSO READ: Pinarayi Vijayan writes to MEA seeking expert treatment for affected Keralite nurse

In a tweet, he said, "Update from @CGIJeddah : About 100 Indian nurses mostly from Kerala working at Al-Hayat hospital have been tested and none except one nurse was found infected by Coronavirus. The affected nurse is being treated at Aseer National Hospital and is recovering well." Muraleedharan said he spoke to the Indian Consulate in Jeddah after the Indian nurses were quarantined at Al-Hayat Hospital, Khamis Mushait, due to the coronavirus threat.

"They are in touch with hospital management and Saudi foreign Ministry. Have asked our Consulate to provide all possible support," he said.

The Indian embassy in Jeddah clarified in a tweet that the nurse found positive for coronavirus was suffering for MERS-CoV and not 2019-NCoV (Wuhan).

"Dr Tarik Al Azraqi, Chairman, Scientific Regional Infection Control Committee, Aseer Region, has confirmed that d Indian Nurse being treated at Aseer National Hospital is suffering from MERS-CoV & not 2019-NCoV (Wuhan). We request everyone to refrain from sharing incorrect info," it said in the tweet.

ALSO READ: Are snakes the original source of new coronavirus outbreak in China?

The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, or MERS-CoV, was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012, while the 2019 Wuhan coronavirus is a novel one, meaning a member of the coronavirus family that has never been encountered before.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to take urgent steps in ensuring expert treatment and protection to those affected from the virus.

There were media reports that the affected nurse was from Ettumannur in Kerala's Kottayam district.

Kerala Health Minister K K Shyalaja said those who have returned from China should inform district medical officers and instructed officials to step up surveillance in all four airports-- Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Kozhikode and Kannur--in the state.

The coronavirus has infected over 630 people and left 17 others dead in China, where authorities have locked down five cities, including Wuhan, and suspended all public transport in an unprecedented move to contain its spread.

EXPLAINER: What's a coronavirus and why is the world panicking about the Chinese outbreak?

The Union health ministry has said 12,828 passengers from 60 flights have been screened for novel coronavirus infection till January 22 but no positive case has been detected in the country so far.

Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan is reviewing the evolving scenario and preparedness status.

She has asked states and union territories to review hospital preparedness in terms of isolation and ventilator management of critically ill patients, identify gaps and strengthen core capacities in the area of surveillance and laboratory support, an official statement said.

Thermal screening is being done at the international airports of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Cochin.

The civil aviation ministry has asked airlines to follow the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) guidelines for managing and notifying anybody reporting illness on flights originating from China and disembarking in India.

A travel advisory was issued on January 17 and put up on the ministry's website and also on the Twitter handle for wider circulation.

"Port and airport health organisations have been sensitised and thermal screening has been initiated at the international airports of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Cochin airports," the statement said.

  TAGS :Saudi ArabiaNursecoronavirus
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carbon20 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Joined: April 08 2006 Location: West Australia Status: Offline Points: 65816	Post Options Post Reply Quote carbon20 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: MERS,in Saudi, not 2019nCov Posted: January 23 2020 at 2:20pm
	NIE menuNIE logo Kerala nurse found positive for coronavirus suffers from MERS-CoV, not 2019-NCoV PTI \| Published: 24th January 2020 12:51 AM For representational purposes (File Photo \| AP) NEW DELHI/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: An Indian nurse working at a hospital in Saudi Arabia tested positive for coronavirus when she and nearly 100 of her Indian colleagues, mostly from Kerala, were screened, the government said on Thursday. The affected nurse is being treated at the Aseer National Hospital and is recovering well, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said. ALSO READ: Pinarayi Vijayan writes to MEA seeking expert treatment for affected Keralite nurse In a tweet, he said, "Update from @CGIJeddah : About 100 Indian nurses mostly from Kerala working at Al-Hayat hospital have been tested and none except one nurse was found infected by Coronavirus. The affected nurse is being treated at Aseer National Hospital and is recovering well." Muraleedharan said he spoke to the Indian Consulate in Jeddah after the Indian nurses were quarantined at Al-Hayat Hospital, Khamis Mushait, due to the coronavirus threat. "They are in touch with hospital management and Saudi foreign Ministry. Have asked our Consulate to provide all possible support," he said. The Indian embassy in Jeddah clarified in a tweet that the nurse found positive for coronavirus was suffering for MERS-CoV and not 2019-NCoV (Wuhan). "Dr Tarik Al Azraqi, Chairman, Scientific Regional Infection Control Committee, Aseer Region, has confirmed that d Indian Nurse being treated at Aseer National Hospital is suffering from MERS-CoV & not 2019-NCoV (Wuhan). We request everyone to refrain from sharing incorrect info," it said in the tweet. ALSO READ: Are snakes the original source of new coronavirus outbreak in China? The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, or MERS-CoV, was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012, while the 2019 Wuhan coronavirus is a novel one, meaning a member of the coronavirus family that has never been encountered before. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to take urgent steps in ensuring expert treatment and protection to those affected from the virus. There were media reports that the affected nurse was from Ettumannur in Kerala's Kottayam district. Kerala Health Minister K K Shyalaja said those who have returned from China should inform district medical officers and instructed officials to step up surveillance in all four airports-- Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Kozhikode and Kannur--in the state. The coronavirus has infected over 630 people and left 17 others dead in China, where authorities have locked down five cities, including Wuhan, and suspended all public transport in an unprecedented move to contain its spread. EXPLAINER: What's a coronavirus and why is the world panicking about the Chinese outbreak? The Union health ministry has said 12,828 passengers from 60 flights have been screened for novel coronavirus infection till January 22 but no positive case has been detected in the country so far. Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan is reviewing the evolving scenario and preparedness status. She has asked states and union territories to review hospital preparedness in terms of isolation and ventilator management of critically ill patients, identify gaps and strengthen core capacities in the area of surveillance and laboratory support, an official statement said. Thermal screening is being done at the international airports of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Cochin. The civil aviation ministry has asked airlines to follow the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) guidelines for managing and notifying anybody reporting illness on flights originating from China and disembarking in India. A travel advisory was issued on January 17 and put up on the ministry's website and also on the Twitter handle for wider circulation. "Port and airport health organisations have been sensitised and thermal screening has been initiated at the international airports of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Cochin airports," the statement said. TAGS :Saudi ArabiaNursecoronavirus More from this section Kerala nurse working in Saudi hospital diagnosed with coronavirus Coronavirus: Pinarayi Vijayan writes to MEA seeking expert treatment for affected Keralite nurse Mortal remains of 8 Indian tourists flown back to Kerala from Nepal Kerala health dept issues warning against coronavirus, steps up surveillance Gun used to shoot Tamil Nadu SSI recovered in Kochi Copyrights New Indian Express.2020 Dinamani \| Kannada Prabha \| Samakalika Malayalam \| Malayalam Vaarika \| Indulgexpress \| Edex Live \| Cinema Express \| Event Xpress Contact Us \| About Us \| Careers \| Privacy Policy \| Search \| Terms of Use \| Advertise With Us Next >>
	Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.🖖 Marcus Aurelius

EdwinSm, Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Joined: April 03 2013 Status: Offline Points: 24065	Post Options Post Reply Quote EdwinSm, Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: January 23 2020 at 10:38pm
	Good catch. With so much 'news' fling around the internet it is easy to draw wrong conclusions. Interesting to know that it is MERS not the 2019nCov virus.