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.