Health Ministry denies any case of SARS

The Ministry of Health yesterday sought to assure the general public that “there is not and was not any person suffering from SARS at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital” as claimed by the front-page report carried in one of the daily newspapers.

Worldwide, SARS has so far infected 2700 people and caused over 100 deaths. Addressing the media at the Health Ministry Ag Chief Medical Officer, Dr Rampersad Parasram said there are sufficient stocks of drugs to treat people who may contract the mystery pneumonia. Health institutions are already equipped with masks and gloves as these are used regularly. Parasram said all primary health care facilities, Accident and Emergency Departments and other health screening agencies will be given guidelines on how to screen and diagnose SARS and where to transfer patients. The Emergency Health Service will arrange transfers between institutions.

Port-of-Spain General Hospital, Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex and San Fernando General Hospital will have designated isolation areas to accommodate persons with SARS. Dr Parasram said Caura will not be used (at present) as it cannot provide the level of care necessary for persons with SARS who require a ventilator. As this equipment is located in Intensive Care Units, he said extra caution will have to be exercised to prevent contact with other patients. Parasram said “increased surveillance” is fundamental to the response to SARS. The Health Ministry has met with the Airports Authority and Port Authority to ensure that any possible cases entering TT are detected. Health Declaration Forms will be given to passengers arriving from countries where SARS was detected.

The Medical Chief of Staff at Scarborough Hospital Dr Dillion Remy and Chief Medical Officer for Tobago Dr Mentor Melville have been updated about diagnosis and transfer arrangements. Parasram said the Ministry of National Security will have to be involved in transporting patients from Tobago. He expressed confidence that local doctors can handle any SARS cases and said international guidelines will be followed. The Health Ministry will be in touch with international agencies if necessary. In a release yesterday, Public Relations Officer Keith Sancho said that thorough investigations had been conducted and that as “of April 14, there are no reported cases of SARS in TT.”

The ministry has also stated that it intended to investigate every suspected case of SARS which may be reported to the authorities. Sancho concluded by requesting that the media check its sources with respect to SARS since inaccurate information on this virus could lead to unnecessary anxiety among the public.