A passenger who flew in with cough tests positive for SARS

Indian Express ^ | April 19, 2003 | Toufiq Rashid

[CathyRyan]

New Delhi, April 18: One more patient ‘‘assumed to be normal’’ by the health authorities has tested positive for SARS in the preliminary Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests.

The patient is a 42-year-old tourist from New Zealand who landed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, from Bangkok at around 11 pm on Thursday night. He has been admitted to the Ram Manohar Lohia hospital

According to sources at the National Institute of Communicable Diseases, New Delhi, the genetic sequencing is being matched and the results would be declared in the next 24 hours.

The New Zealander was moved to the hospital with symptoms such as cough and breathlessness. Even at today’s briefing, the officials in the Health Ministry declared him to be ‘not fitting in the WHO definition of the disease’ — just like they did in the case of Prashil Varde, the first SARS case in the country.

The official version this evening was the patient was ‘afebrile’ with no symptoms. ‘‘His X-ray is normal and he has no fever,’’ they said. According to sources at the airport, the patient had attracted attention of the doctors at the health counters as he showed breathlessness. According to the NICD, the passenger had travelled to Australia where he stayed in New Port with his brother who was suspected to be infected and had suspected to be infected and had been quarantined. He had also stayed in Bangkok for 13 hours before flying to India.

[Domestic Church]

"and then he gets on a plane and travel to another country? Wow. Really stupid."

Beyond stupid. This kind of behavior could kill your sister or your father or your next door neighbors or you. This is becoming criminal negligence on both the individual and the authorities(health/civil/industrial) and that allowed the travel of someone exposed.

[blam]

SARS Death Toll Hits New High In Hong Kong

[pops88]

The WHO and CDC need to deal with the diagnostic issue. People become infected with Human Immunodifiency Virus which will develop into Acquired Immunoficiency Syndrome. People contract a virus that develops into Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. They need to differenciate between the virus carriers and the "syndrome" which so many people are not fitting into. A "syndrome" is merely a group of symptoms. Their cover up and symantics will only make the situation worse.

[Domestic Church]

Clearly unnerved by the fast spread of the disease, the authorities in Singapore announced that from tomorrow Sars victims who flouted quarantine regulations would face fines and prison terms without a court hearing.

And those who have been exposed must be forced to comply(under penalty...my choice would be a dungeon) with the quarantine or SARS will not be contained.

[riri]

Sars victims who flouted quarantine regulations would face fines and prison terms without a court hearing

Hey, it's a start.

About the guitar/keyboard dilemma. I am guessing it would be more soothing for those around you if you stuck with the keyboard. However, there is always acoustic.

On another note, what is your feeling on a vaccine for this? Do you think it is even a possibility? What is your gut feeling where this thing will be in say 6 months? (just curious-you can freep mail me if you feel it is too gloomy for the board)

[Domestic Church]

I have a classical guitar and the kids had a recorder, a harmonica and a violin...I'm thinking electric might be more therapeutic if I'm quarantined with a household of screaming meemies. My spouse has earplugs.

[Domestic Church]

I'm still hopeful for a vaccine especially given the rapid response by researchers so far. I think it might get rather nasty though just before we get that vaccine if the government/health authorities don't lower the boom and bite the economic bullet. I hope I am wrong but it might take a political hotfoot to occur before any action on this happens.