No case of coronavirus in UP: Health official

LUCKNOW: There have been no reported cases of human-to-human transmission of coronavirus in state, according to a senior health official.

Dr Mithilesh Chaturvedi, director, vector borne diseases in the health directorate said that people should not go by the myths, being spread via social media platforms but ensure basic preventive measures to keep safe. In the state till now, 704 travellers had been identified and tracked and samples of 19 of them were collected. Seven of them tested negative and 12 others, whose samples were collected on Wednesday, would be tested next at the King George’s Medical University.

“A lot of myths are being circulated on social media. The preventive measures for coronavirus are the same as are for swine flu which include maintaining distance with people when going out of the house, avoiding touching hands of other person and also keeping mouth and nose covered,” said Dr Vikasendu Agrawal, director surveillance.

Family of those who have travelled back from China should keep watch for symptoms for 28 days. Use of masks by travellers and family members inside the house can also be done. Samples of 12 new travellers were collected from Meerut (3), 2 each from Bareilly and GB Nagar, 1 each from Balrampur, Pilibhit, Agra and Lucknow Districts. All 18 travellers tested for nCoV are in fine health.

Dr Chaturvedi said that myths about transmission from animals prevailed but people should not pay attention to them as all those who were found with symptoms in the country had travel history.The helpline number at the State Head Quarters is 1800-180-5145 and 820 Isolation beds have been reserved across state for travelers returning back from China.

BOY TESTED POSITIVE FOR SWINE FLU IN CITY

A 15-year-old boy tested positive for swine flu and had been admitted to Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences for treatment. Institute’s spokesperson Dr Vikram Singh said that the boy, a native of Basti district visited the hospital with complaints of cold and cough along with fever. When doctors got the samples tested, the result came positive.