Gwalior, Feb 1 (IANS): Utter confusion seems to be prevailing in Madhya Pradesh over the handling of suspected coronavirus cases.

The first suspect, a 21-year-old student of medicine in Sian town in China, who recently returned to Gwalior, was turned away by the district hospital authorities in Morar on Thursday. Still anxious, he went to another hospital only to be handed some medicine and an N-95 mask and was asked to report a couple of days later. There was panic over reports of his "disappearance".

An advisory issued by the Health Minister about the virus wasn't apparently taken seriously as hospitals are underprepared to deal with the situation. The Health Department is learnt to have appointed medicine specialist Naresh Lachwani as the nodal officer after the district hospital incident.

There are virology labs in Bhopal and Jabalpur, but samples of coronavirus are supposed to be flown to Pune for examination.

Persons returning from a trip to Asian countries with cough, cold or fever have been advised to see a doctor immediately.

Medical Education Minister Vijay Laxmi Sadho claimed that there were no reports of any confirmed cases of coronavirus in the state so far.

Gwalior Chief Medical Officer Mridul Saxena has issued a notice to Vinod Batham of District Hospital, Murar, for not following the guideline issued on the virus. The Health Department's troubles increased with the doctor's public statement.

The CMHO collected patient information through CCTV cameras as the civil surgeon was unaware of the case. The authorities said they were tracking the patient and would reach him for precautionary action. He has not been quarantined as yet.