BANGALORE: Following instructions from the Union Health Secretary, the state Health Department has issued an order to authorities of state-run Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Chest Diseases in the city and Wenlock Hospital Mangalore to reserve ten beds each to treat patients suspected with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome.
Speaking to Express, Geetha Nyamagouder, State Health Director, said, “We received instructions from the Union Health Ministry to keep a watch on passengers returning from the Middle East to our airports. We have been asked to watch out for symptoms like cough, cold, headache and fatigue,” she said.
This comes a day after Health Minister U T Khader said that precautionary measures are being taken to prevent the entry of the MERS Coronavirus into the state. He said that high alert had been issued at the two international airports in the state at Bangalore and Mangalore to keep a close watch on passengers from Middle Eastern countries.
“In case we find a suspected incidence of MERS, those persons will be screened and sent to the respective hospitals for treatment,” Geeta added.