No instruction yet to ban imports from Myanmar
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 06 2020: There is no instruction as yet from any authority to ban import of goods through Manipur-Myanmar border in connection with the outbreak of 2019-Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in Wuhan, China.

Speaking to media persons at his Lamphelpat office this evening, Health Services Additional Director (Public Health) Dr L Arke said that neither the World Health Organisation nor the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare nor the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has issued any instruction to seal Manipur-Myanmar border or ban import of goods through the neighbouring country.

No instruction yet to ban imports from Myanmar

Nonetheless, the State Government has written to the Central Government to issue guidelines or advisory on the matter.

As such, a reply is expected soon, Dr Arke said.

However, screening people who come to the State from outside is being done at different entry points, he said.

Notably, cross-border trade on selected items is being done between India and Myanmar through Moreh under an official agreement.

Till yesterday, 172 people who came to Manipur from China were registered and screened for 2019-nCoV, said the Additional Director.

As per a directive of the NCDC, symptoms shown by people coming from China (other than Wuhan), Thailand and Singapore etc should be screened.

But people coming from Wuhan should be screened and put under surveillance regardless of whether they show any symptom or not, he said.

Workers of Health Services have been monitoring the health conditions of all the 172 people who came back from China recently even though they are staying at their respective homes, Dr Arke said.

Out of seven samples collected from people who showed symptoms similar to those of 2019-nCoV and sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, results of four have been received.

Even though all the samples tested negative for 2019-nCoV, two tested positive for H1N1 (Swine Flu).

Next time, samples would be sent to the National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (NICED), Kolkata.

JNIMS Microbiology Department Associate Professor Dr RK Manojkumar is the nodal officer for sending samples from the State to NIV and NICED.

As such, all samples would pass through Dr Manojkumar, said the Additional Director.

All possible precautionary measures against 2019-nCoV have been put in place and reports are being sent to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare everyday.

Meanwhile, a joint meeting of the officials of RIMS, JNIMS and Health Department was held today with the Principal Secretary (Health) in the chair and all the health officials were issued strict instructions.

Moreover, precautionary measures taken up in the State were discussed in detail with officials of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare through video conference.

A similar video conference would be held with all the States tomorrow too, he said.