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‘Super Spreader’: 67-Year-Old Kumbh Returnee Infects 33 with Covid-19 in Bengaluru

13 psychiatric patients at Spandana Healthcare and Rehabilitation Centre in West Bengaluru were also among those infected by the 67-year-old woman.

As per a report by Times Of India, a woman who had visited the Kumbh Mela contracted Covid-19 in the first week of April and ended up infecting 33 more people in Bengaluru.

13 psychiatric patients at Spandana Healthcare and Rehabilitation Centre in West Bengaluru were also among those infected by the 67-year-old woman.

The old woman’s daughter-in-law, who happens to be a psychiatrist with Spandana Healthcare, was treating 13 patients when she found out that her mother-in-law had tested positive for Covid-19. A few days later, she got herself tested and was found positive as well but with no symptoms.

The BBMP officers from Nandini layout, upon this revelation, took the matter into their own hands and began the process of contact tracing. All contacts of the daughter-in-law were asked to be tested by the Spandan hospital. After testing, 13 of her patients including two staff members were found to be positive.

18 family members of the Kumbh returnee were found to be infected, reported TOI.

As per the TOI report, the cause of the spread of the deadly virus was attributed to the Kumbh returnee by a BBMP medical officer from Nandini Layout primary health centre. The returnee was admitted to a private hospital and has since then recovered.

Talking to TOI, Dr. Mahesh R Gowda, who heads Spandana said that with nearly 16 patients and staff members testing positive, the hospital had to close a floor and had to be declared a covid facility.

He further added that those infected were treated at the facility itself and displayed mild symptoms which was treated on time before it could be transmitted to more people.

“The psychiatrist was asymptomatic and developed symptoms of Covid later, requiring hospitalization. Our colleague stopped coming to the hospital after her mother-in-law tested positive”.

According to sources, there are still is no concrete details on how many attended the Kumbh Mela and whether they got themselves tested for Covid-19 upon return. However, the experts have insisted that the government continue tracking the returnees to curb the spread of Covid.

 

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