Coronavirus Scare In Odisha: Phulbani Medical Student Tested Negative

Bhubaneswar: The medical student of Phulbani in Odisha’s Kandhamal district admitted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack has tested negative for coronavirus, informed director, DMET (Directorate of Medical Education & Training), Dr CBK Mohanty on Tuesday.

Talking to the media here after a video conferencing with the Union Health Secretary, Mohanty said the swab and blood samples of the student were sent to National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune for tests and the report received from the institute negates any symptom of coronavirus. “The medical student will be discharged from SCB today,” he added.

Notably, the medical student from Phulbani, Mryutunjay Muni, was admitted to SCB on January 31 after he wrote to Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO), Kandhamal, Rajyashree Patnaik about his prolonged cough and cold. He had returned to his native place from China on January 11.

Stating that five of the six samples sent to the NIV have tested negative for the deadly virus, the DMET director said that report of another medical girl student admitted to SCB is awaited.

After her arrival in Odisha, the girl student, who is pursuing MBBS in Wuhan province, the epicentre of coronavirus in China, underwent thermal screening at Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar and was found in poor health. Following which, she was referred to SCB.

Mohanty further said 13 persons from China and one from Thailand have arrived in Odisha so far. “We are keeping a close watch on them. While 12 persons have been kept under home surveillance, the medical girl student is in the SCB isolation ward,” he added.

The Union Health Secretary advised the state government to make arrangements for at least five beds in the district headquarters hospital and 30 beds in the premier government medical college and hospitals for the suspected patients, he added.