Coronavirus: 4th patient kept in isolation ward

Mumbai: The third suspected coronavirus patient tested negative even as the fourth such patient who has a history of travelling to China and is suspected to possess symptoms of the disease was kept under observation Sunday night, said the executive civic health officer. The man (36), a resident of Tardeo in south Mumbai, was admitted to the isolation ward of civic-run Kasturba Hospital on suspicion of possible exposure to the coronavirus, said civic health officials.

He travelled to China on January 3, 2020 and returned on January 11, 2020 through Hong Kong. During his stay, he visited Shanghai and Guangzhou, almost 1,000 km away from Wuhan city, which has reported the highest number of cases. Though he did not show any symptoms when he returned, health workers observed him through the telephone. On Sunday night, when he complained of fever, he was immediately rushed to the isolation ward of the hospital.

“The patient had fever for the last five days and on Sunday night, he developed fever again. So, we decided to keep him under observation as a precaution. But he hasn’t travelled to the affected provinces so we believe it’s just a case of viral fever,” said Dr Padmaja Keskar, executive health officer, BMC.

His medical sample has been sent to the National Institute of Virology for analysis. However, the report of the third suspected patient has come negative in terms of the new strain of coronavirus nCOV.

Last week, three persons were admitted to hospital for possible exposure to the virus strain after screening of passengers was carried out at the Mumbai international airport.

All three were hospitalised as precaution, officials said on January 25.