Coronavirus sets off alarm across world
BEIJING: The death toll from the fast-spreading coronavirus rose to six on Tuesday as airports in India and around the world stepped up screening of travellers, and the World Health Organization (WHO) called a meeting to consider declaring a global health emergency over the outbreak, with the number of cases climbing beyond 300.
China has confirmed the coronavirus strain is contagious between humans, tightening control on people exiting and entering Wuhan, the central Chinese city at the core of the outbreak, amid anxiety ahead the country’s biggest festival, the Lunar New Year (LNY).
As many as 319 people have been infected, health authorities said on Tuesday, adding that two more people died in Wuhan in the past 24 hours, pushing the toll up to six. Two cases were confirmed in Tianjin, a city neighbouring Beijing; reports in the past 24 hours said the virus has spread across China, and in at least seven cases, outside its borders to
Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Australia.
In India, the civil aviation ministry directed seven airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata to make arrangements for screening of passengers arriving from China in the wake of the outbreak.
Airlines flying in from any airport in China including Hong Kong have been asked to make in-flight announcements requesting passengers with history of fever and cough and travel to Wuhan city in the past 14 days to announce themselves at the port of arrival in order to facilitate early isolation, according to an official statement. T
he action-plan includes thermal screening of passengers. The statement came after a travel advisory issued by the Indian health ministry over the outbreak.
Though the origin of the virus is yet to be identified, WHO said the primary source is probably animal. Chinese officials have linked the outbreak to Wuhan’s seafood market. The virus can cause pneumonia, with symptoms including fever and difficulty in breathing. As those symptoms are similar to many other respiratory diseases, extra screening is needed.
While the organisation has not recommended trade or travel restrictions, such measures could be discussed at a meeting on Wednesday to consider declaring the outbreak a global health emergency.
The authorities in China are now attempting to isolate the previously unknown virus in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province and a transport and education hub.
According to officials in Beijing, 14 medical staff have been infected in Wuhan – confirming fears that the virus is contagious. Officials in China confirmed on Monday that humans can be infected by other humans with the new virus.Initially, the virus was thought to be zoonotic, or one transmitted from infected animals to humans.
WHO CONSIDERS DECLARING A GLOBAL HEALTH EMERGENCY