Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram   

SARS: more security masks arriving

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM APRIL 28. As part of augmenting SARS surveillance measures, the Government will be procuring more security masks to be worn as a self-protection measure by professionals who are likely to come in close contact with suspected cases of SARS.

While 50 pieces of the N95 masks reached here as first consignment on Sunday, urgent indents have been placed for an additional 1,000 pieces along with another 1,000 masks for non- medical groups. The consignment of the 2,000 pieces is expected to reach here on Tuesday.

The Health Secretary, K. Ramamoorthi, told The Hindu that it was also proposed to purchase three units each of portable ventilators and x-ray machines to be allotted to medium-level Government hospitals as part of maintaining high-level of preparedness against SARS.

The Health Department has, meanwhile, sought sanction of Rs. 62 lakhs as a contingency assistance to strengthen SARS surveillance in the State. The funds would also be used to maintain adequate stock position of anti-biotics, steroids and anti-viral drugs used to treat potential SARS-afflicted patients.

The U.S.-imported masks which are to be worn by risk groups, such as airport staff, medical officers and paramedics, likely to come into close contact with suspected SARS cases, was imperative to strengthen SARS surveillance in the State, it is pointed out.

Constant SARS surveillance has already been launched across the three international airports since April 11, as part of the global alert on the killer-pneumonia syndrome.

The N95 masks are essential safeguards both for surveillance staff at the airport as well as for treating physicians and paramedics at the isolation wards at the Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, and the General Hospital, Kochi.

In the apportioning of the first consignment of 50 white-shaded pieces, 10 each were allotted to the screening staff at the three airports in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode, and another 10 to the isolation wards. At least 100 surgical masks have been distributed to staff requiring close encounters with suspected SARS cases.

The N95 masks, which provide 95 per cent filtration against micro-organisms have been approved devices by the World Health Organisation for personal protection against SARS.

Prior to the receipt of the N95 masks, surveillance staff at airports and hospitals had been using the three-layered green surgical masks as a personal protection as well as a confidence building measure.

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