441 people under observation for coronavirus affliction in Kerala

KOCHI: With the global coronavirus scare beginning to singe India too, most of the people quarantined in the country are in Kerala, where the number of people returning from China is high.

A total of 441 persons who had travelled to China in the last 28 days have been put under observation in 14 districts in Kerala. With 90 persons, Kozhikode tops the list while Kasargod has three cases of quarantine.

Five people are in isolation wards in hospitals while others are being quarantined at home.

Of the seven persons who showed symptoms like mild flu and whose blood samples were sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune, five returned negative while two have been diagnosed with the H1N1 virus.

The Kerala health authorities are continuing surveillance and quarantine operations. A Union Health Ministry delegation of doctors has reviewed the facilities for screening passengers from virus-affected countries. The team also inspected isolation facilities at the Ernakulam Government Medical College.