Corona Virus : As of now no case recorded; result for 2 suspected case awaiting -Health Minister
Source: IT News

Imphal, February 18 2020: The state of Manipur having porous border with Myanmar and its proximity with China which is currently haunted with the outbreak of Corona Virus (2019-nCoV) has been taking up various measures to prevent the spread of the virus from reaching to Manipur.

Replying to a question by Congress MLA Okram Surjakumar during question hour today, Health Minister L Jayantakumar said that since the outbreak of the deadly virus total number of people living in China either for study or working who had returned to Manipur is 248 as on February 17 .

Of the total 248 people 9 persons were suspected to have been infected by the virus however result of the test samples of 7 persons that was sent on February 14 were found negative.

Test result for 2 cases which were sent on February 17 is still awaited, the Health Minister said.

In connection with a question on the measures taken up to fight the spreading of the epidemic in the state, L Jayntakumar said that even as there is no specific budget in the medical Directorate for tackling of Coronavirus issues, expenditure for taking up the measures are being taken up from available fund and will be utilized from the available fund under the head of the office /contingency/ office expenditure.

He further added that screening of passengers arriving at Imphal Airport has been started from January 18, 2020 .

He also added that Medical team had been alerted at Indo Myanmar Border town Moreh and concern department had even restricted edible items from Myanmar side.

He added that two referral hospitals with isolation wards and ventilators identified at RIMS and JNIMS and the sample collection and testing is done as per standard operating procedure of the Government of India.

Rapid Response Teams at both state and district level are on alert besides Information Education and Communication on Print and electronic media by Directorate of Health Services are being underway.

However, such media education through advertisement have never been received by Evening daily newspaper base in Imphal which is popular among the workers and hand to mouth earners.

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