India's First coronavirus death in Karnataka has Hyderabad link, contact tracing begins
By Newsmeter Network Published on 12 March 2020 8:24 PM GMT
Hyderabad: India's first death of coronavirus positive case in Karnataka has a link to Hyderabad. A 76-year-old male from Karnataka who died on March 10 at Kalaburgi was tested positive for Covid-19.
As the patient was treated at an unidentified Hyderabad hospital, Telangana health authorities are working on contact tracing.
The 76 year old man from Kalburgi who passed away and was a suspected COVID 19 patient has been Confirmed for COVID 19. The necessary contact tracing, isolation and other measures as per protocol are being carried out.
— K'taka Health Dept (@DHFWKA) March 12, 2020
According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, he visited Saudi Arabia from January 29, 2020, to February 29 2020.
"He already had hypertension and Asthama. He landed in Hyderabad Shamshabad international airport on February 29 and went to Kalaburgi. While he was asymptomatic on his return, he developed symptoms of fever and cough on March 6 2020. The family members called in a private doctor who visited his home and treated him," said Ministry of Health in a press release. Corona virus death having Hyderabad links are baffling the officials.
Death of a 76 year old male from #Karnataka is confirmed to be caused due to co-morbidity and he has also tested positive for #COVID19.
The details are here: pic.twitter.com/6Vou8iVOo9
— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) March 12, 2020
On March 9, 2020, the symptoms got aggravated, and he was admitted to a hospital in Kalaburgi. The private hospital provisionally diagnosed his disease as mid-zone viral pneumonia and suspected Covid-19.
On the same day, the sample was collected by GIMS Kalburgi Viral Research Diagnostic Lab and was sent to VRDL in Bengaluru. While test results are awaited, the attendees of the patients discharged him against medical advice and took him to a private hospital in Hyderabad Banjara Hills. Despite efforts by Kalaburgi district health officer, the family members of the patient refused to admit him in Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences in isolation ward they brought him to Hyderabad without the knowledge of official machinery. The patient was treated at Hyderabad hospital and was discharged. On his way back to GIMS the patient died on March 10.
Ministry said Karnataka officials had initiated all measures of contact tracing, screening and home quarantine of the contacts.
Dr Suresh Shastri Joint Director of IEC Karnataka said that the Telangana government was informed about the private hospital where he underwent treatment.
Here's a list of all #COVID19 Helpline numbers from various States/UTs. Please keep handy and share with others also.#SwasthaBharat#HelpUsToHelpYou pic.twitter.com/jkxGztli2N
— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) March 12, 2020
