KATHMANDU: Authorities in Nepal will now carry out an intensive screening of people along the Indo-Nepal border to deal with the menace of Novel Coronavirus. This decision has been taken after confirmation of coronavirus being found in Nepal.

The mysterious, pneumonia-like virus that originated in China has claimed 56 lives so far and is spreading rapidly in many countries.

As an instant response to it, China has canceled the mega-events like the New Year celebration.

According to the Ministry for Health and Population, eight health workers including three doctors from Sukraraj Tropical & Infectious Disease Hospital in Teku have been stationed at the airport.

Authorities are said to be responding to the disease in many ways like control, cure and enhance capacity building.

Meanwhile, to tackle the coronavirus, passengers arriving at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) from abroad are under strict scrutiny after a Nepali youth was diagnosed with a novel strain of coronavirus.

According to health officials, a health screening of those with similar symptoms to the virus has been managed.

According to the Ministry for Health and Population, eight health workers including three doctors from Sukraraj Tropical & Infectious Disease Hospital in Teku have been stationed at the airport.

The government has assigned five hospitals in Kathmandu for the treatment of patients suffering from coronavirus. It has instructed to make the ‘health-desk’ at TIA effective and ensure that the suspected corona-virus carriers are taken the hospitals and are taken care of in ‘the isolation ward.’

The Ministry of Health and Population has assigned Sukraraj Tropical & Infectious Disease Hospital in Teku, Bir Hospital, Civil Hospital, Patan Hospital and Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) after a first case of the deadly virus was confirmed in Nepal.

Likewise, the Union Health Ministry of India will make arrangements for screening on the Nepal border bordering Uttarakhand with immediate effect.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan spoke to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on this subject on Saturday.

Harsh Vardhan told the Chief Minister: “Arrangements are being made for screening people coming to India through Nepal border adjoining Uttarakhand. Apart from the screening, the Health Ministry will immediately provide all possible assistance to the state.”

The government has taken this decision after a case of coronavirus unearthed in Nepal.

The Union Health Minister has also written a letter to the Chief Ministers of other states as well, urging them to personally monitor the situation in this matter.

On Saturday, Harsh Vardhan held a high-level meeting in Delhi regarding the coronavirus menace. Officials of the Ministry of Health, scientists of ICMR and NCDC and other experts attended the meeting called for the prevention of the virus.

After the meeting, Harsh Vardhan said: “The Union Health Ministry has decided to form seven separate teams of experts to deal with Novel Coronavirus. These teams will take stock of arrangements to deal with the virus at the Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Kochi airports.”

The Union Health Ministry has also issued a helpline number 011-23978046 in this regard. The Ministry said that this helpline number will be available round the clock for any kind of information.

The Ministry of Health is working closely with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Ministry of External Affairs and the World Health Organization for the prevention of coronavirus. Under this, special checks are being done at the airports of passengers coming from abroad.

Coronaviruses

Common human coronaviruses such as types 229E, OC43, NL63, and HKU1, mainly cause the common cold, or mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract illnesses.

Coronavirus usually lasts for a short amount of time. Symptoms include

Headache

Runny nose

Cough

Sore throat

Fever, or a general feeling of being unwell

It can also cause lower-respiratory tract illnesses, such as pneumonia and is common in people with weakened immune systems, cardiopulmonary disease, infants, and elderly ones.

Sometimes, other symptoms include cough, fever, and shortness of breath.

Diagnosis

Healthcare providers may suggest laboratory tests on respiratory specimens and serum to detect coronaviruses.

People experiencing such symptoms need to visit a hospital or consult a doctor.

(with inputs from Agencies)