Is
it really a SARS case?
Sandesh Prabhudesai
17 April 2003
Prashil Varde, India's fist SARS victim has been isolated,
but Goan authorities seriously doubt whether he is actually
suffering with the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.
After consulting the central team of experts that is arriving
today afternoon, the state government plans to once again
send Varde's blood, urine and sputum samples to another laboratory,
for a second opinion.
"He cannot believed to be suffering with the SARS virus
since he is totally symptom-free and nobody else is also infected
with it", states Goa's health minister Suresh Amonkar,
a medical practitioner himself.
According to him, Varde had only mild fever initially and
had no other common symptoms like high fever, pneumonia, constant
cough and breathlessness, headache, body ache or even loss
of appetite.
"He is so much fit that he can even go and play football
or hockey", quips Dr Amonkar, wondering how SARS-affected
patient could be so healthy after over a fortnight.
The authorities thus seriously doubt authenticity of the
report sent by the Institute of Virology, Pune. However, the
decision would be taken only after consulting the experts'
team of the National Institute of Communicable Diseases, arriving
here today.
Varde, along with his wife, was on a pleasure trip to Hong
Kong and Singapore between 26 to 30 March and stayed in Mumbai
for three days before returning to Goa on the evening of 1
April.
As his medical practitioner referred him to the Goa Medical
College due to SARS outbreak in both the South East Asian
countries during the same time, the young marine engineer
got himself admitted in the GMC's SARS ward.
He was discharged on 10 April since the fever had also disappeared,
putting himself under voluntary isolation at his residence
at Dhawali in Ponda taluka (famous for temples), awaiting
reports.
The reports from Pune came last night, testing positive for
SARS. He has thus been readmitted at the GMC since last night.
Dr Amonkar also wonders why his wife or his parents are also
not infected with the virus during such a long period, though
he also admits that Indians are immune to the 'corona virus',
as it is being termed medically.
He also refutes the story that Varde's family members are
being quarantined. "The question does not arise since
they have no such symptoms", states the health minister.
In spite of the mystery, the authorities however have taken
all kind of precautions for isolation. In fact, the state
chief minister Manohar Parrikar has personally appealed to
all those who came in touch with Varde since 1 April to remain
isolated from the public.
Your
Comments Please
