The Hindu : `An irresponsible act'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 02, 2003

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`An irresponsible act'

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI MAY 1. Reprimanding the Mumbai health authorities for ``mishandling'' the metropolis' first Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) suspect, the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Sushma Swaraj, today admitted that despite the countrywide campaign and extensive briefing to all health officials "an irresponsible act had been committed".

The patient had been discharged even before the hospital authorities received the test reports. "The health authorities in Mumbai have admitted to committing a mistake by allowing the person to leave the hospital while his samples were being tested for the virus," the Minister said here today during her visit to Mahrishi Balmiki Infectious Diseases Hospital.

She also informed that the patient had volunteered to come to Delhi after being discharged from the Mumbai hospital. "The hospital authorities did not take enough precaution before discharging the patient. Now all infectious disease hospitals have been instructed not to discharge patients until they get reports of sequencing test," Ms. Swaraj said.

Speaking about the incident in Kolkata, Ms. Swaraj admitted that this was another "unfortunate" incident where hospital staff including doctors refused to report for duty due to presence of SARS patients there. "We have taken stock of the situation and will ensure that the medical machinery remains fit to attend to any eventuality".

Ms. Swaraj also pointed out that though the number of SARS suspected people was high, symptoms were found in very few cases. "So far the authorities have traced 65 people, who came in contact with SARS-infected patients, and have put them under home quarantine.

"We need to be cautious and not panic. People need not wear masks while moving on the roads only the hospital staff who are treating SARS patients need to use masks," Ms. Swaraj said.

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