The coronavirus that originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan has created a major scare across the world, with countries taking precautions to control its spread. Over 100 persons have died, all in China with one death being in Beijing, which has increased the urgency in controlling the virus from spreading. Countries, including India, are planning to evacuate their nationals who are in the city and in the province of Hubei. There are 250 Indians in the province that required evacuation. China has quarantined entire cities to contain the spread, but since there has already been movement of persons from the city to other places, the virus could have already spread.
The first reports of several cases of pneumonia in Wuhan came to the World Health Organisation on December 31 last. A week later it was confirmed by the Chinese authorities that this was a new virus of a family of viruses that include the common cold, and viruses such as SARS and MERS. It being a new virus, there was no knowledge of how it could affect people and how it could be treated. There is no knowledge of how dangerous this virus can be. Research and studies are still ongoing, but, like the SARS episode that arose in 2002-03, of which 774 people died and over 8000 were infected, and also the MERS outbreak that has killed over 850 people, the coronavirus too is believed to have originated in an animal before being passed on to humans.
It has not yet been declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by WHO, but the organisation is of the confirmed opinion that it is an emergency in China, which has not yet become a global health emergency. The possibility of it becoming one does exist, as the WHO risk assessment is that the outbreak is very high risk in China, and high risk regionally and globally.
At this point of time, there is no reason to panic in Goa. There has been a case of a tourist from Delhi who had visited China and on holiday in Goa developed a sore throat and the patient, as a precautionary measure, has been placed in quarantine. Since the first suspected case is that of a tourist, it makes it important for Goa to maintain vigil not just at airports, but also at train stations and the bus terminus and also screen those who may have visited China in the past week and have returned to Goa already. In this respect, the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa request of a desk manned by GMC at the airport, may be looked into. Since, the incubation period of the virus is two days to 10 days, such safety measures have to be taken.
There is no doubt that the State has woken up early to the outbreak in China and begun taking precautions. Less than 24 hours after it decided to set up a special isolation ward at Chicalim sub-district hospital to deal with suspected cases of the virus and a treatment ward at Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC), it received its first suspected patient. Besides, there has been a task force, comprising health officials, police and captain of ports, formed that held its first meeting and which will monitor the situation and report to the government.
The State is currently in a comfortable position and equipped to handle any case. What is most important now is awareness among the people and the need to maintain calm, without panicking. Unless there has been recent travel to China, any fever or cold should not be treated as a suspect coronavirus case. This could be a normal flu that is also prevalent during this season.
