New Delhi, May 05: Government today said there is no case of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in India which conforms to the WHO case definition, but about 20 persons have tested laboratory positive. "As on May 1, 2003, 20 laboratory positive (PCR test) persons have been reported. They are from Maharashtra (15), West Bengal (2), Tamil Nadu (1) and Punjab (1)," Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare A Raja said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha here.
"No case of SARS has been reported in India which conforms to the WHO case definition," he said.
He said a high level Centre-State Joint Committee has been formed for close monitoring of the situation while the Central government is procuring special respirators from Defence Research & Development Organisation for distribution to state governments.
Mandatory screening has been introduced at all ports and airports for all the persons disembarking in India. Besides, facilities for treatment of SARS in isolation have also been arranged in the Central government hospitals as also in other infectious diseases hospitals.
To another question, he said there was no shortage of live saving drugs in CGHS dispensaries.
Raja informed Parmeshwar Kumar Agarwalla that about 8.06 lakh persons would have developed cancer in the country.
"It is estimated that in 1995, 19.4 million individuals were affected by diabetes in India and these numbers are expected to increase to 57.2 million by the year 2025," he said in reply to another question. Bureau Report