Should we change the definition of suspect COVID 19

^{New Delhi, February 22, 2020:}

Sudden surge in cases of COVID 19 in South Korea, continuing cases in China and North America, and 5 deaths in IRAN makes it likely that we are in a situation of Pandemic Alert.

Five deaths in Iran would amount to over 500 undiagnosed cases as the death rate is 2.3 %.

Now the virus has started spreading in the community as the infection is seen in patients with no link to positive case. We need to change our policy for suspecting cases of coronavirus.

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All patients of rapidly developing viral pneumonia, should be tested for H1NI and if negative should be tested for coronavirus.

This may sound too aggressive but taking lessons from Iran we should not end up in getting the first confirmed case after death of in ICU.

Some viruses do not like to cross the India border by themselves, Yellow fever, Ebola, SARS, MERS, but will that be true for COVID 19?

Dr KK Aggarwal

President CMAAO, HCFI and Past National President IMA

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