The coronavirus, first detected in China, has been spreading across the world
Highlights
- He was admitted to an isolation ward as a precautionary measure
- Samples taken from the man in Kerala, however, had tested negative
- Malaysia has around 25 confirmed cases of the coronavirus
A Kerala man who recently returned from Malaysia, where the coronavirus cases have been rising, has died, doctors at a hospital in Ernakulam where he was being treated have said. He was admitted to an isolation ward as a precautionary measure after he arrived in Kochi with several illnesses.
Malaysia has around 25 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, according to reports.
Samples taken from the man in Kerala, however, had tested negative for the virus, which has been spreading across the world after it was first detected at a seafood market in China's Wuhan.
The man had been suffering from respiratory problems and pneumonia. He was also a diabetic, doctors said. The Health Department, however, has sent more samples of the man to check whether his death is linked to the coronavirus.
Three people in India who had confirmed to have the virus have been discharged from hospital after they recovered and tested negative for the coronavirus. Groups of Indians who came from China are under quarantine, while some of them have been released after staying under observation for weeks.
The World Health Organisation on Friday raised its global risk assessment of the new coronavirus to its highest level after the epidemic spread to sub-Saharan Africa and financial markets slumped.
The virus has proliferated around the globe over the past week, emerging on every continent except Antarctica, prompting many governments and businesses to try to stop people from travelling or gathering in crowded places.
The number of dead in China has risen to 2,870, while confirmed cases have increased to 79,824.
A report on the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, released jointly by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and China's National Health Commission identified the infection as a zoonotic virus, meaning an infectious disease caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites that spread from animals to humans.
The report, which is based on analysis of data the WHO and Chinese health authorities gathered from February 16-24, said human-to-human transmission is largely occurring in families.
The report also found that people with COVID-19 generally show symptoms within five to six days, on average, after contracting the infection, and most people infected have mild symptoms and could recover.
However, individuals, including people aged over 60 and those with underlying conditions such as hypertension face the highest risk of severe conditions and even death, the report said.
With inputs from PTI