Chinese travelers to be screened at Indian airports
India today issued a travel advisory for its nationals to and from China and ordered screening of international travellers who will land at Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata airports to combat Novel Corona Virus (nCoV), spread from the Wuhan province of China.
“As a matter of abundant precaution, the ministry has instructed screening of international travellers from China at designated airports at Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata through thermal scanners,” the Indian Ministry of Health said in a statement.
A travel advisory has also been issued to the passengers travelling to and from China in this regard, it added.
The clinical signs and symptoms of the disease are mainly fever with a few patients having difficulty in breathing, the statement said.
“The mode of transmission of the disease is unclear as of now. However, so far there is little evidence of significant human-to-human transmission,” it said.
As on January 11 this year, 41 persons were infected with the virus in China, of whom one has died. Only travel-related cases have been reported (one each) in Thailand and Japan, according to the statement.
As a matter of abundant precaution, travellers to China are advised to follow simple public health measures at all times as by observing good personal hygiene, frequent hand-washing with soap, covering mouth when coughing or sneezing, avoiding close contact with people who are unwell or showing symptoms of illness, such as cough and runny nose, the Health Ministry said.
It also suggested avoiding contact with live animals and consumption of raw/undercooked meats and travel to farms, live animal markets or where animals are slaughtered.
All travellers to China, in particular Wuhan city, need to monitor their health closely, the travel advisory said.
According to the WHO, the situation is still evolving while its preliminary investigation suggests links to the sea food market.
Corona viruses are a large family of viruses, which cause illnesses to people and also circulate in animals including camels, cats and bats. Rarely, animal corona viruses can also evolve and infect people, said the statement.
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