Thrissur, Jan 30, 2020: Kerala Health Minister K K Shailaja on January 30 said coronavirus has been confirmed on a student returning from China.

The unidentified student admitted at Thrissur General Hospital has been diagnosed with the virus.

Addressing the media, the minister said the health condition of the student admitted at the isolation ward is satisfactory. She is being closely monitored.

Shailaja said that if required the student will be shifted to Thrissur Medical College. Of the 20 samples sent from the state, only one has been confirmed of the virus, she said. Ten samples have been tested negative. Lab authorities have put on hold six samples. Only one student of the four isolated has been diagnosed of the virus. She was tested positive in the first phase of the test.

The virus was confirmed on the student who came from Wuhan University in China. A meet was convened in Thrissur by a team led by Thrissur district medical officer.

The minister said the situation is a matter of great concern. Some coming from China are not ready for an examination. The main symptoms of the disease are cough, fever and breathlessness. Directions have been given to private hospitals.

The federal Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said one positive case of Novel Corona virus from Kerala has come to light. “One positive case of Novel Corona virus — a student studying in Wuhan University — has been reported from Kerala,” said a statement released by the Health Ministry.

Meanwhile Chinese health authorities said the country had 7,711 confirmed cases as on January 29.

Infections have also spread to at least 15 other countries.

The World Health Organization (WHO) met again in Geneva to consider whether the virus should be declared a global health emergency.

Various countries have implemented evacuation and quarantine plans for nationals wanting to return from China, where the outbreak began in the city of Wuhan.

Russia has decided to close its 4,300 km far-eastern border with China in an attempt to stop contagion.

More people have now been infected in China than during the Sars outbreak in the early 2000s, but the death toll remains far lower. Sars, also a coronavirus, caused acute respiratory illness.

Researchers are racing to develop a vaccine to protect people from the virus. One lab in California has plans for a potential vaccine to enter human trials by June or July.