SARS scare at south hospital

A 14-YEAR-OLD boy who fell ill yesterday scared doctors and nurses at the San Fernando General Hospital, who felt the teenager was this country’s first victim of the dreaded SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) virus.

The boy was taken into the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit when he began to experience difficulty breathing. It was his persistent nasal congestion which caused doctors to become nervous. They immediately ordered that the boy be removed and isolated from the rest of the patient population in the ICU. Doctors and nurses took preventive action including donning face masks and keeping at arm’s length from the patient.

The scare resulted in a sudden scamper of many nurses from adjoining wards. Those who stayed, ensured they were masked. Hospital Medical Chief of Staff,  Dr Austin Trinidade, was immediately notified. There was a rush at the hospital around midday of members of the press and electronic media. Doctors carried out several tests on the boy, the results of which brought great relief to staff.

Dr Trinidade told Newsday yesterday that the boy was diagnosed as having suffered a severe case of pneumonia. “Yes, it was a suspected scare, but the boy had pneumonia,” Trinidade said. It was reported by the United Nations, on Thursday, that the deadly SARS virus has already infected 4,200 persons in 26 countries, mainly in Asia. So far no cases have been reported in the Caribbean.