DTMT Network
India is closely monitoring the situation after reports of 41 confirmed cases of novel Corona virus (nCoV) including one death, from Wuhan, China. The virus, which also spread to Japan and Thailand, causes illnesses to people and also circulates in animals including camels, cats and bats. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can also evolve and infect people.

Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan stated that Indian government is regularly reviewing the public health preparedness in the country since the news broke out.

Sudan added that meetings of the Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) were convened under the Chairmanship of Director General of Health Services (DGHS) with representations from various stakeholders (health and non-health sectors) and WHO.

She pointed out that public health preparedness is being reviewed on day-to-day basis and the core capacities to detect and manage the importation of the nCoV into the country are being strengthened further.

She stated that the situation is being monitored in consultation with WHO and keeping in view the limited human to human transmission the risk at global level is perceived to be low.