7 nCoV patients treated for typhoid die in Jalgaon

Nashik: At least seven Covid-19 positive patients in North Maharashtra’s Jalgaon district, who were initially administered treatment for typhoid by general practitioners (GPs), have succumbed to the viral infection recently. All the deceased were above the age of 60.

The local administration has now made it mandatory for all general practitioners in the district to formally inform the local government authorities about patients they treat who have symptoms akin to Covid-19.

“These seven patients had symptoms including body ache, gastrointestinal problems, temperature etc. The GPs concerned treated them for typhoid, although such symptoms are similar to those exposed to coronavirus. Later, by the time these patients had tested positive for Covid-19, it was too late and they succumbed,” the district officials said.

District collector Abhijit Raut told TOI that these GPs ought to have advised the patients to undergo Covid tests when they had approached them for treatment.

“We have taken this issue extremely seriously and have directed the GPs across the district to provide a list of patients they have treated for any disease that may have symptoms similar to Covid-19 symptoms. The respective sub-divisional magistrates would examine the list and cross-check with the GPs concerned,” said Raut. He added that the GPs have been advised to refer patients for Covid-19 tests even in case of slightest doubt.

Raut has directed all chemists shops in the district to sell medicines for flu-like symptoms only with a prescription. The district collector has also appealed to people to get themselves tested for the infection.

With Jalgaon being one of the Covid hotspot districts in the state, the district administration is going all out to curb the spread of the infection. At present there are over 2,100 active cases in the district and 592 have succumbed.