China-return student referred to Cuttack hospital for possible coronavirus infection

A China-returned medical student hailing from Odisha's Kandhamal district was Friday referred to SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack after he developed cold and cough, an initial symptom of new coronavirus (nCoV), official sources said.

student, who was studying MBBS in China, returned to Odisha on January 11 before outbreak of dely virus and was suffering from cold and cough since. student reported himself to Kandhamal Chief District Medical Officer Rajyashree Patnaik with symptoms. "I am an MBBS student. Since I have developed cold and cough. I was staying in a town close to Wuhan, epicentre of vel coronavirus. I fear I have been infected with nCoV. refore, I seek assistance of government," he told reporters at Phulbani, district hequarter of Kandhamal.

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"We have referred student to SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack since re is provision of mitting such cases in Kandhamal," a doctor at Kandhamal district hospital said. Medicine specialist Bidyhar Panda said student h chest congestion.

"He was staying in China for about four years. He feels feverish through re is rise in body temperature today. His blood and throat swab samples have been sent for tests and reports are expected in two to three days," doctor said. SCBMCH Emergency Officer B N Maharana said re are 48 beds, including 8 in ICU, created for coronavirus cases. " hospital is well equipped to deal with nCoV cases," he said.

After first nCoV case confirmation in Kerala on Thursday, Centre anunced that all persons who have come from China after January 15 will be tested for virus, which has an incubation period of 14 days. Odisha's Health and Family Welfare Secretary N B Dhal Thursday said two persons came forward and informed government that y returned to Odisha from China via Malaysia.

"se two persons h such nCoV symptoms. We have vised m home isolation and keeping vigil on ir health status for 15 days," Dhal said. Health experts say symptoms of infection include high fever, difficulty in breathing and lung lesions. vel coronavirus has been declared as a global emergency by World Health Organization, as outbreak continues to spre outside China.

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