NEW DELHI: The Centre has asked five states—Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, West Bengal and Sikkim — bordering Nepal to strengthen disease surveillance amidst a suspected surge in novel coronavirus (nCoV) infected cases in the neighbouring country. Health secretary Preeti Sudan on Friday asked these states to step up vigil and screening of those travelling from Nepal. During a review meeting with states, Sudan also asked them to regularly assess the preparedness and prevent transmission of the virus.Reports said over 100 people are affected with symptoms that are similar to coronavirus in Nepal. Special focus is on travellers there visiting religious and other tourist places in India, an official said. Special health teams have already been deployed at border outposts in these states.The health ministry maintained the situation is under control and there are adequate stocks of protection equipments and masks. Allaying concerns about any shortage of medicines due to lockdown in China, which is a major supplier of raw material or active pharmaceutical ingredient for medicine formulation, the ministry maintained there is enough inventory for at least two months and that the government is taking required steps to ensure there is no disruption in supplies in the market.“The situation is under control in the country and is being regularly monitored by the prime minister's office, Union health minister and cabinet secretary. In addition, a group of ministers is also reviewing the status,” Sudan said.So far, India has reported three confirmed cases of nCoV, all from Kerala. Three medical students of the Wuhan University, all natives of Kerala, who returned to India on their own recently and self-reported at a hospital in the state tested positive for the respiratory virus. One of them has been discharged after recovery.Besides, around 15,991 people across the country have been kept on community surveillance. Of them, 497 have been identified as symptomatic cases and are being monitored while about 41 have been hospitalised.During the review meeting with states, Sudan stressed that though the number of cases has not increased, the vigil needs to be kept high. They were urged to keep enhancing the awareness among the masses for prevention through personal hygiene, and self-reporting in case of any travel from China and other identified countries.A high-level group of ministers, constituted on the directions of the PM, held its second meeting to review the current status and actions for prevention and management of the virus on Thursday.Passengers arriving from Thailand, Singapore, China and Hong Kong are being screened for possible exposure to the respiratory virus at 21 identified airports.The health ministry has asked people to refrain from travelling to China in view of the coronavirus outbreak and said travellers on return could be quarantined. In an updated travel advisory, the health ministry said that the existing visas, including e-visas already issued, are no longer valid for any foreign national travelling from China.