Interim report on cluster outbreak still not closer to identifying source

MANGALURU: A 6-member expert team probing cluster case at First Neuro Hospital, Padil is no closer to source or ‘P-0’ more than 1000 swab tests later. In DK, the hospital has links to 19 out of 33 positive cases recorded so far, but none that can be conclusively traced to the Hospital, experts maintained in interim report and have sought time to await results of reports of patients from Kerala treated and discharged here from coming to any conclusion.
District health and family welfare officer Ramachandra Bairy deposing before a meeting that Kota Shrinivas Poojari chaired on Monday said 19 out of the 1000 swabs collected from those connected to the hospital have proved positive. While 8 are from Kasba village in Bantwal, 3 were infected at the hospital, including a ward staff, patient and her son and remaining six are from Boloor area under Mangaluru City Corporation limits, Dr Bairy said.
All those in contact with the ward staff of the hospital who tested positive, have tested negative for Covid-19. Even patients from Chikkamagaluru and Kodagu who underwent treatment there. Reports of patients from Kodagu and Chikkamagaluru and their primary contacts have turned out negative. The missing link is Covid-19 reports of both in and outpatients from Kerala treated at the hospital and results of their swab reports could help arrive at source, he said.
“We are in touch with our counterparts in Kerala for reports of patients from the neighbouring state who were treated at first neuro,” Dr Bairy said. With results of these reports crucial, Dr Bairy sought time to await the same before coming to any conclusion. The minister said since there is lot of speculation about the source of outbreak in the district since April 19, it is imperative for the same to be cleared at the earliest before one could move forward.
S Suresh Kumar, minister in-charge of Covid-19 for Karnataka said, “As we can’t afford to leave any stone unturned in our fight against Covid-19, there is nothing wrong in having a look regarding patients treated at First Neuro Hospital. UK district authorities feel First Neuro has in a way contributed to spurt in cases. We will do nothing to discredit individual or institution. But we should do everything to go into root of the infections,” he told TOI.