Blood samples and throat swabs of two persons from the state capital have been sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune to test for the Novel coronavirus, which the World Health Organisation has classified as a global epidemic.

RIMS medical superintendent Dr Vivek Kashyap said that the samples and swab of one person was sent on Thursday, and another person’s was sent on Friday.

RIMS is where those coming to Ranchi from China are being taken for screening of the virus. The hospital has created a five-bed isolation ward.

“We have facility to admit the suspected cases at our isolation ward but those coming for screening preferred to remain in isolation at their homes,” Kashyap said. “As none of them had Wuhan connection, we also did not resist. We took a sample of their blood and throat swabs and sent them to the National Institute of Virology for test.”

However, a highly placed source at RIMs said both persons had come from China. Wuhan, the capital of China’s Hubei province, is believed to be the place where the virus originated.

“The one who came yesterday (Thursday) was a 29-year-old man from Hehal while the one who had come today (Friday) was a 23-year-old lady from Kanke,” the RIMS source said. “Both are pursuing their higher education in China and have come to the city. The one who had come yesterday had no problem but the lady who had come today was suffering from some respiratory problem.”

A health department official said a medical team has been deputed under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Plan (IDSP) at the airport and anyone coming to the city with a history of recent visit of China is being sent to RIMS for screening.

“So far there is no confirmed case of virus in the district,” said Ranchi civil surgeon Dr Vijay Bihari Singh.

All travellers with history of travel to China and other Southeast Asian countries in the month of January will be kept under home surveillance for a minimum of 14 days according to health department directive, state IDSP officer Dr Rakesh Dayal said.

“Under house surveillance the traveller would have to report daily to either the civil surgeon or the IDSP office, of any coronavirus-like symptoms such as cough and fever for 14 days,” said Dayal. “Any traveler with coronavirus like symptoms detected either through thermal screening at the 22 international airports of the country or through medical diagnosis would have his throat swab sent to NIV Pune for confirmatory test. However, till the confirmatory test comes from NIV Pune the person would be kept in isolation ward.”

He said all deputy commissioners and civil surgeons have been told to ensure that all district hospitals and the six government medical colleges set up isolation wards with all arrangements including ventilators and specific masks for patients with coronavirus like symptoms till their throat swab test is confirmed from NIV Pune.

Even private hospitals have been directed to furnish information to the district IDSP office about any patient with coronavirus symptoms.

State health minister Banna Gupta, who assumed charge on Friday in Ranchi, said the state was on full alert to tackle any situation.

In Dhanbad, the isolation ward will be set up at the PMCH.

Help desks have also been set up at Dhanbad station and bus depot.