Georgia thanks Germany for providing reagents to diagnose China-born coronavirus

Georgia has thanked the Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology of Germany for providing the reagents which are used to diagnose the newly emerged coronavirus 2019-nCOV.

Head of the Georgian National Disease Control Centre Amiran Gamkrelidze stated earlier today that the reagents arrived in Georgia at Kutaisi International Airport at 1 a.m. this morning.

We are very grateful to the Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, with whom we have been cooperating closely over past several years, to make it possible for us to diagnose the new coronavirus in Tbilisi,” Gamkrelidze said.

He stated that in previous years, with the help of the Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Georgia was able to diagnose Ebola, Zika and other infections.

Gamkrelidze says that two individuals who were in China and came to Georgia with flu symptoms last week have been tested for the coronavirus in the Lugar Lab of Tbilisi.

Last week we sent the biological materials of the two patents to the Netherlands and they tested negative for the new coronavirus. As soon as the reagents were in Tbilisi earlier today, we ourselves tested the patients for the new coronavirus and the result was the same,” Gamkrelidze said.

Georgian health official held a media briefing earlier today. Photo: NCDC. 

• Tbilisi-based Lugar Lab to be able to test for new coronavirus

He stated that as of now four individuals are in isolation at the hospital of infections in Tbilisi.

Gamkrelidze stated that two of the individuals who came from China went to the hospital with a fever, while the other two had high temperatures when checked by medics at Tbilisi International Airport and were transported to the hospital.

Gamkrelidze said that neither of the four have signs of the new coronavirus.

However, we are very cautious,” he stated, adding that the results of the laboratory test will be available soon.

• The virus has already killed 425 [only one case outside China, in the Philippines] and infected more than 20,000 [with more than 150 cases outside China].
• 632 people have recovered and discharged from hospitals.
• The virus has spread to 24 foreign states, with Georgia having no cases as of now.
• Georgia has temporarily suspended direct flights with China to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.
• Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia said that the healthcare system is ready to efficiently respond to the challenge of the coronavirus if it appears in Georgia.
• The new coronavirus is thought to have emerged from illegally traded wildlife at a seafood market in Wuhan, China.
• The incubation period of the virus is around two weeks. It causes severe acute respiratory infection and symptoms mostly start with fever, followed by a dry cough.