KATHMANDU: It has been verified that a person presumably infected with coronavirus has been infected with the deadly virus. It is the first case of the coronavirus reported in Nepal.
Holding a press conference on Friday, Ministry for Health and Population confirmed it.
A 32-year-old youth who had recently returned from China was admitted at the Sukraraj Tropical & Infectious Disease Hospital in Teku following a high fever. He was later discharged from the hospital.
A swab sample of the youth was sent to Hong Kong for test and it was confirmed that he was infected with the virus.
Senior Public Health Officer Sagar Dahal said, “We conducted different tests here. But, he could not confirm if it was coronavirus. The sample was then sent to Hong Kong in coordination with the World Health Origination. The lab test confirmed that the youth was infected with the virus.”
Spokesperson at the Ministry Mahendra Shrestha said that health screening has been managed at the Tribhuvan International Airport.
Shrestha said three more people with symptoms similar to the virus were found at the airport. He added that preparations were underway to send their swab samples to Hong Kong for a diagnosis.
He further stated that facilities for treatment have been managed at the Sukraraj and Patan hospitals for those infected with the virus.
Chief of Sukraraj Hospital Dr. Basudev Pandey said that one person who had arrived from Hong Kong is undergoing treatment at the hospital.
Speaking at the press meet, Minister for Health Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal said that the precaution has been adapted to the fullest to stop the spread of the virus. He requested all to be highly cautious.
WHO had earlier warned that the virus responsible for the outbreak of pneumonia in the central city of Wuhan could also enter Nepal.
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause infections ranging from the common cold to SARS.
Anyone suffering from fever, having difficulty in breathing and respiratory illnesses should be kept in an isolation ward, but Nepal lacks proper health centers and laboratories for treatment and diagnosis of such highly infectious diseases.
People prone to chronic diseases have lower immunity and are more vulnerable to infection. Others too risk contracting the disease. The virus has so far killed 25 people and infected more than 800 in China alone.
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