India
There have been 41 confirmed cases of el coronavirus in China till January 11, of which one has died.
Updated : Jan 17, 2020, 04:40 PM IST | Edited by : Ahamad Fuwad
The government has issued a travel advisory to Indians visiting China after outbreak of novel coronavirus in the country, causing a mysterious form of pneumonia.
There have been 41 confirmed cases till January 11, of which one has died, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Sunday.
The clinical signs and symptoms are mainly fever with a few patients having difficulty in breathing. Only travel-related cases have been reported (one each) in Thailand and Japan.
In a statement on Thursday, the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said the mode of transmission is unclear as of now. However, so far there is little evidence of significant human-to-human transmission.
The government said that even though WHO’s risk assessment suggests that chances of global spread are low, the travellers to China are advised to take some public health measures.
WHO risk assessment
To date, investigations are still underway to assess the full extent of the outbreak.
Wuhan city is a major domestic and international transport hub. To date, there have been no reported cases outside of Wuhan City.
More comprehensive information and ongoing investigations are also required to better understand the epidemiology, clinical picture, source, modes of transmission, and extent of infection; as well as the countermeasures implemented.
Suggested measures for travellers in China:
Observe good personal hygiene
Practice frequent handwashing with soap
Follow respiratory etiquettes - cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing
Avoid close contact with people who are unwell or showing symptoms of illness, such as cough, runny nose etc.
Avoid contact with live animals and consumption of raw/undercooked meats
Avoid travel to farms, live animal markets or where animals are slaughtered
Wear a mask if you have respiratory symptoms such as cough or runny nose
All travellers to China (in particular Wuhan city) to monitor their health closely.
If you feel sick and have fever and cough:
Cover your mouth while coughing or sneezing
Don’t plan travels if sick
Seek medical attention promptly
If you feel sick on flight, while travelling back to India:
Inform the airline's crew about illness
Seek mask from the airline's crew
Avoid close contact with family members or fellow travellers
Follow the directions of airline crew while disembarking
If you feel sick on flight or at the time of disembarkation:
Report to airport health authorities/immigration
Follow the direction of the airport health officer
If you feel sick within a span of one month after return from China:
Report the illness to the nearest health facility and also inform the treating doctor regarding your travel history