Coronavirus Outbreak: Three suspected cases under observation in New Delhi

Three persons have been kept under observation in an
isolation ward of the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi for suspected
exposure to novel coronavirus, officials said on Tuesday.

Dr Minakshi Bhardwaj, Medical Superintendent of RML
Hospital, said: “Three patients have been kept in the isolation for
possible exposure to novel coronavirus. Their samples have been sent for
testing.”

In order to review the preparedness of authorities with
respect to the treatment of suspected patients of novel coronavirus, a team of
experts from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) had visited RML on
Monday. They had inspected the isolated dedicated wards for the treatment of
the patients infected with the virus.

 The death toll from
novel coronavirus in China skyrocketed to 106 on Tuesday.

Coronaviruses (nCoV) are a large family of viruses that
cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome (SARS-CoV). A novel coronavirus is a new strain that has not been
previously identified in humans.

Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms,
fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe
cases, the infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome,
kidney failure, and even death.