M A I N   N E W S

Youth down with pneumonia under observation

Bhopal, April 4
As panic gripped the world over a killer respiratory disease, a pneumonia affected patient in Madhya Pradesh today underwent a battery of tests at a local hospital to ascertain whether he has contracted the deadly Asian pneumonia virus.

Meanwhile, the Centre has ordered kits from Germany to help in screening of pneumonia patients if they are afflicted with the disease called Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). A youth, Purushotam, from Rajgarh district is under constant observation of doctors, who are expected to be assisted by a team of experts from the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD). PTI

A patient from Rajgarh district of Madhya Pradesh suffering from SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) being treated in a private hospital in Bhopal on Thursday. — PTI photo

Ministries meet over SARS
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 4
The Ministry of Health today convened a coordination meeting with nominees from Ministries of Civil Aviation, Shipping, Home Affairs and External Affairs to deliberate on their respective duties and responsibilities to gear up to face the threat posed by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

The meeting was presided over by Health Secretaries Meenakshi Datta Ghosh and Jyoti Rao.

Mrs Ghosh, who is also the Project Director of the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), told TNS here this evening that the outcome of the meeting would be an action plan developed by the Director-General of Health Services for clinical examination and isolation of any incoming infected passengers. Information would be disseminated to field offices of various ministries, including airports and ports.

The medical management of the disease is in the hands of the Director-General of Health Services.

Meanwhile, SRL Ranbaxy has claimed that it is the only laboratory in the country which has a complete test panel for SARS. The results are said to be available immediately.

Sources in SRL Ranbaxy said they would submit a formal proposal to the Union Health Minister on the exclusive panel of tests and for contributing their services to combat the deadly epidemic. The proposal would mention the three panels for the SARS diagnosis.