‘Mysterious’ disease alarm: Some 300 hospitalized, 1 dead in India as medics fail to identify cause of patients’ suffering
At least one person has died and hundreds more have been hospitalized due to an unknown illness that has emerged in Eluru, India. Medical authorities are scrambling to identify what is causing the health problems.
Residents of the city, which is located in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, have been rushed to hospital after suffering from dizziness, headaches, vomiting, and epilepsy-like symptoms. Around 300 people have been treated for the unexplained illness in total, with more than 140 patients being discharged after receiving medical care, according to NDTV, citing health officials.
Most people seem to recover from the bizarre sickness, but one patient, a 45-year-old man, died after being admitted to the hospital with symptoms of nausea and epilepsy.
Authorities are still trying to determine the cause of the unexplained illness. CT scans have not revealed anything unusual in the patients, and cerebral spinal fluid tests also came back normal. The afflicted individuals have all tested negative for Covid-19. Blood, water, and food samples have been collected and sent to a forensics laboratory, local media reported, and health officials are awaiting the results of screenings carried out to detect E. coli bacteria.
A special team of doctors has been dispatched to the city as officials conduct a house-to-house survey in an attempt to identify potential patients, as well as find clues that could reveal the source of the illness.
According to media reports, some of the patients said they had experienced convulsions and lost consciousness after drinking tap water. Water contamination was identified as the culprit behind the string of hospitalizations, but officials have insisted that there is no evidence there is anything wrong with the city’s supply.
Courtesy of rt.com
UK’s MoD prepares to deploy 4,000 military GPs, surgeons and nurses to help struggling NHS deal with coronavirus chaos #COVID19 #coronavirus #UK #MoD #pandemic #quarantine
THE Ministry of Defence is planning to deploy 4,000 medics to help the struggling NHS deal with the coronavirus pandemic.
GPs, surgeons and nurses are being lined up as part of drastic measures to stop the spread of the killer bug.
Britain could be stuck in a state of “permanent outbreak” and lockdown until a vaccine is found – which is at least a year away – experts have warned.
Cases in the UK have soared to 1,543 and 55 people have now died from the disease as the pandemic continues to rampage through the country.
The MOD has readied 300 GPs, dozens of surgeons, 1,200 nurses and 2,500 combat medical technicians amid fears the NHS will buckle under the pressure.
According to The Times, the Department of Health will have to make a formal request under “military aid to the civil authorities” protocol to trigger the support.
The plans fall under Operation Broadshare – the Ministry of Defence’s response to the coronavirus outbreak.
It is understood the medical personnel would be placed in existing hospitals – rather than in newly-built field facilities over fears this could drain resources from the NHS.
The NHS is already planning to cancel or delay all non-emergency operations to free up vital resources key to combat the coronavirus pandemic.
The Government has also asked manufacturers to step up efforts to help in the production of kit needed.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said surgery that was not time sensitive would either be cancelled or postponed.
He said: “The measures that I’ve just outlined are unprecedented in peacetime.
“We will fight this virus with everything we’ve got.
“We are in a war against an invisible killer and we’ve got to do everything we can to stop it.
“We will be cancelling or postponing non-time sensitive elective surgery and the NHS will make a statement about this later today.”
There are also fears hard-working NHS staff could fall ill while treating the disease and have to self-isolate for two weeks.
It comes after the PM drastically ramped up Britain’s battleplan yesterday – shutting down mass gatherings and urging everyone to stop non-essential travel and contact with others.
He said that means all Brits (around 66million people) staying out of pubs, clubs, theatres and cinemas for weeks – and potentially months into the summer. All who can can should work from home, he said.
The over 70s, those who are pregnant, and anyone with underlying health conditions (around 20million Brits) should try not to leave their homes if they can, and avoid crowded spaces immediately.
This will continue for the “long haul” – likely weeks or months.
And those with severe illnesses like cancer (around 1.4million Brits) must start cocooning themselves in their homes and get food delivered in from this weekend.
Researchers involved in the government curbs on daily life now estimate 260,000 people would have died under the previous, less restricted, plans.
The team from Imperial College London said the new tighter controls could limit deaths to around 20,000 – with the leading professor admitting the best case scenario would still see tens of thousands die.
Courtesy of thesun.co.uk
Coronavirus: Italy shuts all schools and universities as deaths rise #COVID19 #coronavirus #Italy #emergency #quarantine #epidemic
Italy is shutting all schools and universities in an effort to stop the spread of coronavirus.
Italian authorities say 107 people have died and 3,089 have been infected, making it by some distance the worst-affected European nation.
Only schools in the north of the country, where the coronavirus outbreak is centred, had closed so far, but the wider shutdown will last until 15 March.
Announcing the move, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said the country’s health service risked being overwhelmed.
Italy’s sports minister has also said the government is likely to order all top division football matches to be played in empty stadiums until the situation stabilises.
Authorities also plan to extend the quarantine “red zone” to some municipalities in the Bergamo area.
The outbreak is currently centred on the Lombardy region around Milan, and neighbouring regions of Veneto and Emilia Romagna.
Museums, cinemas and other public places have closed and many events such as fashion shows and trade fairs have been cancelled.
But cases have been reported around the country, including 18 in Sicily and at least 20 people in Rome’s Spallanzani infectious diseases hospital.
Tunisia also said on Wednesday that it was halting ferry services to northern Italy.
Italy’s educational shutdown comes as countries such as Poland, Hungary, Ukraine and Morocco reported their first cases of the virus.
Italy’s national health institute has told people to remain at least a metre apart, stop hugging each other and avoid crowded places.
The fatality rate from COVID-19 in the country is around 3.16%.
Italy’s weak economic growth is likely to suffer significantly – particularly the huge tourist sector as holidaymakers pull the plug and airlines cut flights.
An exhibition of the Renaissance artist Raphael, which has sold nearly 70,000 tickets, is also threatened.
Organisers at the Scuderie del Quirinale gallery in Rome said they are “keeping our fingers crossed and praying it can go ahead as planned” on Thursday.
Courtesy of Sky News
Coronavirus UK: NHS declares HIGHEST emergency level – comprehensive care now undeliverable #COVID19 #coronavirus #UK #NHS #Emergency #Epidemic
CORONAVIRUS has been declared a level 4 emergency by NHS England – the highest warning that can be issued.
With the epidemic continuing to spread across the UK and the globe, urgent measure are being put in place to contain the outbreak. Over 50 cases have now confirmed in Britain, and the outbreak has forced the NHS to warn some care services are now undeliverable.
A level 4 emergency is defined as when “pressure in the local health and social care system continues to escalate leaving organisations unable to deliver comprehensive care.
“There is increased potential for patient care and safety to be compromised.
it follows the release of the government’s battle plan to tackle the crisis earlier today in the event of a major escalation in the virus’ outbreak across the country.
The Government is preparing to encourage people to work from home, introduce an “emergency registration” of retired health professionals, and call in the Army if necessary.
However, Prime Minister has urged calm from the public in responding to the epidemic.
He said at a press conference this morning: “Let me be absolutely clear that for the overwhelming majority of people who contract the virus, this will be a mild disease from which they will speedily and fully recover, as we have already seen.
“But I fully understand public concern about the global spread of the virus and it is highly likely that we will see a growing number of UK cases.”
Courtesy of express.co.uk
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