No Signs of Coronavirus Found in 42 Evacuees from Wuhan

Turkey airlifted 42 people from China's Wuhan, where the coronavirus outbreak began.

İstanbul

No Signs of Coronavirus Found in 42 Evacuees from Wuhan

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Minister of Health Aziz Koca announced yesterday (February 2) that sample tests on 42 evacuees airlifted from China's Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, would be released today.

Speaking to press members in the capital Ankara, Fahrettin Koca reiterated that there were no signs of the coronavirus among the evacuees, who arrived in Ankara late Saturday, and that no coronavirus cases had been diagnosed in Turkey.

"Thanks to our experience, strong health organization and dynamic staff, we were among the first countries to take action," said Koca.

Emphasizing the wide measures against the virus in Turkey, he added that authorities had taken 18 samples to be studied in the country's National Virology Laboratory, where test results came out negative.

He noted that follow-up processes continue for travelers coming from China through thermal cameras, quarantine rooms, negative pressure stretchers and medical facilities.

Koca added that similar precautions would also be taken for other countries as well.

Plane was treated by specialists

In a separate statement, Turkey's Ministry of National Defense said the interior and exterior cargo plane that carried the evacuees had been treated by chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear specialists.

In addition to other materials to meet their needs while under quarantine, the evacuees were also provided televisions to pass the time, it said.

Specialists will monitor their rooms for 14 days, in line with a virus's incubation period, with all services, including meals, to be provided with disposable materials.

The Turkish Armed Forces' A400M type cargo plane departed from Wuhan on Saturday (February 1) with the evacuees including citizens of Turkey, Azerbaijan, Albania and Georgia, after health staff confirmed they did not carry any symptoms related to the fatal outbreak.

The coronavirus, so named because under the microscope it resembles a crown, has killed at least 304 people in China, with over 14 thousand infected.

Since its outbreak late last year, China has put Wuhan under lockdown in a bid to contain the virus and is building a hospital to treat those affected.

Beyond China, the virus has spread to Japan, South Korea, Thailand, the US, Singapore, France, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, India, Nepal and Canada.

Travelers from China are being screened for the virus at airports worldwide. Several airlines have suspended flights to Wuhan.

A new type of coronavirus

The new strain of coronavirus was first diagnosed in Wuhan, China on December 12, 2019. Releasing a statement on December 31, the Health Commission of Wuhan Municipality announced that 27 other people having links with the Huanan Seafood Market were also diagnosed with the virus.

The first findings of the scientific research conducted on the coronavirus showed that its genetic sequence emerged from bat and snake species unique to China. Accordingly, the sale of wild animals has been forbidden in the country until the outbreak ends.

As the virus has spread to other cities and provinces in a short time, public transportation has been suspended in 17 cities in Hubei province, especially in the city of Wuhan where the virus was first diagnosed.

The virus is spreading more and more rapidly and the number of cases in China has now exceeded that of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). In 2002-2003, 5,327 people contacted the SARS virus in the country. The worldwide number of SARS virus cases was 8 thousand. The number of coronavirus cases is expected to exceed it as well.

(TP/VK)