T’gana looks at Kerala on ways to curb spread
TH I RU VAN ANT HAP U RAM: WITH corona virus disease (Covid-19) cases rising in the country, some states have approached Kerala to find out how the state managed to contain India’s first three cases and has so far reported no other instances.
A team from Te lang ana comprising doctors and health officials arrived in T hi ru van ant ha pu ram on Friday to study the state’s monitoring and surveillance system. Teams from Odisha and Madhya Pradesh are also expected to arrive soon, a Kerala health ministry official said, requesting anonymity.
The Telangana team met state health minister, KK Shailaja, and visited some of the hospitals and attended review meetings in the state capital. During the discussion, health officials described the protocol, surveillance and contact-tracing methods used.
Union Health Minister, Dr Harsh Vardhan, has asked all states to follow the Kerala model in tackling the virus. Union cabinet secretary, Rajiv Gauba, has also lauded the state’s efforts in containing the virus.
India’s first three cases of Covid-19 were reported in the state and all three patients, who were students back from China, were discharged after being cured. Effective isolation and monitormaterial, ing mechanism and strict adherence to guidelines issued during the Nipah virus outbreak two years ago helped the state to tide over the crisis.
“We are happy to share our experience and strategy with other states. Though there is some let up in the situation, we are maintaining strict alert. We are holding review meetings every day and video conference with all district medical officers,” said Shailaja, adding it is still premature for the state to lower its guard. She said Kerala has extended help to other states.
The state was in battle-mode after the detection of the first case on Jan 30. Isolation wards in at least 200 hospitals were ready in a few days and health workers were trained for barrier nursing to prevent secondary infection.