Jagtial: Two Gulf migrants, who returned home recently, have been infected by a UK strain of novel coronavirus. District health officials immediately shifted them to TIMS hospital, Gachibowli in Hyderabad on Thursday evening.
When the two landed at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Shamshabad on February 25, their samples were collected for Covid-19 test. Since they tested positive for the virus, they were asked to stay in home quarantine and follow the prescription advised by the doctors.
District health department officials received information from higher ups in Hyderabad that the Gulf returnees were infected with the UK strain, and were asked to shift them immediately to Hyderabad.
They tested negative for Covid when they started from Dubai but tested positive on arrival in Hyderabad. Officials suspect that the two were infected by the virus since they travelled through UK where this coronavirus strain is rampant.
A native of Mutyampeta of Malyala mandal, the person came to his native village on February 25. On landing at the airport in Hyderabad, his samples were collected and he tested positive. The medical staff also conducted Covid test on 15 family members, and six of them tested positive in Rapid Antigen Test. Samples of all 15 members have now been sent for RTPCR test.
The same was the case with another Gulf migrant from Venkatapur of Korutla mandal. The 26-year-old person, who came here on February 25, also tested positive for the virus and was asked to be in home quarantine. Though four of his family members tested negative, their samples have been sent for RT-PCR test.
When asked for clarification, District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO) P Sridhar said the two Gulf migrants were shifted to TIMS Hyderabad as they were infected with the UK strain.
After receiving information from State level officials, they immediately shifted the two to Hyderabad in special ambulances. Samples of 19 of their family members were also sent for RT-PCR test, he said.
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