India intensifies its preparedness and response to Novel Coronavirus
WHO China
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On 31 December 2019, the WHO China Country Office was informed about cases of pneumonia of unknown cause, detected in Wuhan City, China. Subsequently the Chinese authorities identified a new type of coronavirus, called as novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). On 30 January 2020, WHO Director General declared the outbreak of novel coronavirus – a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHIEC).
Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and humans. Once in humans this 2019-nCoV has shown capacity to transmit from human to human. Most common signs include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, and breathing difficulties. In more severe patients, infection can cause pneumonia and even fatal complications.
As on 04 February 2020, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) in India confirmed three cases of 2019-nCoV in Kerala. These patients are in stable condition and are being closely monitored in hospital isolation.
The Prime Minister’s Office, the MoHFW and other line Ministries are closely monitoring the situation and guiding states on preparedness and response measures. MoHFW and Ministry of Civil Aviation has instituted health measures related to international travel including entry screening, travel advisories and signages at major ports of entry, and evacuated Indian nationals from Wuhan City. State governments are actively responding to situation and stepping up preparedness measures.
WHO is closely working with key technical institutions of MoHFW including National Centre for Diseases Control, the Indian Council of Medical Research and the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting on disease surveillance, laboratory testing capacity and risk communications, respectively.
WHO is ensuring that information on suspected cases is shared early and those confirmed are reported to global community as per the International Health Regulations to inform current understanding on novel coronavirus.
In addition, as a permanent member of the Joint Monitoring Group constituted by the MoHFW, WHO has been providing continuous technical updates and guidance on novel coronavirus to assess risk, and review preparedness and response needed at national and sub-national levels.
WHO is providing technical advice to all states on points of entry measures, enhanced disease surveillance, hospital preparedness including infection prevention and control, laboratory testing capacity and risk communications. The WHO teams in states have been trained and are currently supporting response activities on the field.
We are still in the early stages of understanding this new virus and the disease it causes. WHO is working closely with China to better understand the pathogenicity of the virus, the epidemiology and clinical spectrum of the disease, as well as the countermeasures to be implemented.
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