Beijing, May 12: An Indian national, who was admitted to a hospital here after showing some SARS-like symptoms, is stuck in the isolation ward even though doctors have diagnosed that he has not contracted the deadly disease. After initially treating him as a suspected case of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), doctors at Peking Union Medical College (PUMC) have now diagnosed that he is suffering from typhoid fever, a rare bacterial infection not found in China.
However, since he was admitted to PUMC, a SARS-designated hospital for foreigners here, he cannot be shifted to a regular hospital for routine treatment for typhoid fever.
"Though I don't have SARS, I am stuck in the isolation ward which is designated for SARS patients," said the Indian man, who did not want to be identified. "Since my family in India would be horrified to know that I am stuck in a SARS-designated hospital, I don't want to be named," the man, who hails from north India, said.
China’s official news agency last night reported that the Indian patient would be "transferred" to another hospital soon.
However, when contacted, a doctor at the PUMC denied that the Indian would be transferred to another hospital in Beijing for treatment of typhoid fever. China's health ministry today said 12 people died from SARS during the last 24 hours, taking the national death toll to 252. Out of the 12 fatalities, nine were reported from Beijing, which is currently the worst-hit city in the world.
The cumulative number of SARS infections in china has risen to 5,013 with 75 fresh cases being reported during the last 24 hours, the ministry said. Bureau Report