HOME   
   NEWS   
   BUSINESS   
   CRICKET   
   SPORTS   
   MOVIES   
   NET GUIDE   
   SHOPPING   
   BLOGS  
   ASTROLOGY  
   MATCHMAKER  


Search:



The Web

Rediff








News
Capital Buzz
Commentary
Diary
Elections
Interviews
Specials
Gallery
The States



Home > News > Report

SARS alert at Mumbai airport

Syed Firdaus Ashraf in Mumbai | April 08, 2003 22:43 IST

The staff at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport has been asked to wear masks while dealing with passengers in the arrival lounge.

The order came a day after a suspected SARS case was detected in the city.

Rebecca Raleigh (23), an American photographer, landed in Mumbai on April 3. She was admitted to the Kasturba Hospital on April 7 with high-fever and redness of eyes.

Rebecca had travelled through China, Taipei, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia before arriving in Mumbai.

The airport staff has been asked to keep the masks on even when dealing with passengers from countries other than those affected by the atypical pnemonia virus.

"This is just a precautionary measure...not every airport employee knows where all a passenger coming from say New York has been to," said M R Tambre, health officer in charge at the airport.

"This order [to wear masks] has come from New Delhi and we are following it," said Dr Subhash Salunke, Director, Health Services, Maharashtra.

SARS has killed nearly 100 people and infected more than 2000 people worldwide since it surfaced first in China some four months back.

So far, nearly 200 masks have been supplied at the international airport in Mumbai.

A mobile van has been stationed outside the arrival lounge to take SARS patients to Kasturba hospital or V N Desai hospital, two facilities designated to deal with SARS.

The van has been fitted with oxygen cylinders, since people suffering from SARS generally complain of breathlessness. Male nurses in the van have been provided plastic body suits and gloves.

However, they haven't yet seen any action."We all are waiting here for the last three days but so far no one has come. We are wondering how a SARS patient looks like," said Mohan Gawde, a male nurse attached to the mobile van.

SARS Attack: The Complete Coverage

Share your comments


 What do you think about the story?




Read what others have to say:


Number of User Comments: 5




Sub: sars

hi. i think SARS is a definitely horrible virus and i bet every1 agrees with me. i think people should not be travelling at all ...


Posted by nivedita





Sub: Are Airports still secured ?

Its good to know that Major airports are screened for possible infected victims and are quarantined. Just a small fear that lurks in mind. Its ...


Posted by Kedar Joshi





Sub: Indians be careful

Its nice to see that indian govt taking preventive measures to restrain SARS. I am in Singapore and i m observing how fast does this ...


Posted by Nitin





Sub: SARS virus

Since the wave of urgency has risen regarding the SARS virus, i believe that travellers of any country who have travelled to countries like China, ...


Posted by Nishant





Sub: SARS

I agree absolutely. India is in no position to deal with an epidemic like SARS, especially as it is impossible to monitor everyone in a ...


Posted by myth




Disclaimer




Article Tools

Email this Article

Printer-Friendly Format

Letter to the Editor









HOME   
   NEWS   
   BUSINESS   
   CRICKET   
   SPORTS   
   MOVIES   
   NET GUIDE   
   SHOPPING   
   BLOGS  
   ASTROLOGY  
   MATCHMAKER  
© 2003 rediff.com India Limited. All Rights Reserved.