A red alert has been announced across the country to deal with the spread of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). All state health ministers and secretaries will meet on Thursday to lay out a plan of action.

In Delhi on Tuesday, a 29-year-old woman who arrived from Guangdong Province in China was admitted at the infectious diseases hospital. Doctors say her case seems to fit the clinical definition of SARS, but they are awaiting test results. Two other cases — a man each in Jaipur and Nashik, both back from the US — are in hospital with SARS-like symptoms, but Director General Health Services (DGHS) Dr SP Aggarwal said they seemed unlikely to be SARS-afflicted.

Responding to members' queries on SARS in the Lok Sabha during zero hour, Health Minister Sushma Swaraj said there was no need for panic. "We are fully geared to meet the challenge," she said.

"There is no negligence, there is no apathy, I assure you," she said as MPs alleged that airports were ill-equipped to deal with the situation.

Swaraj, who will head the meeting on Thursday, told members the World Health Organization had appreciated India's efficient handling of the situation.

She also said Indian doctors had proved they were capable of identifying and treating SARS cases without external help.

Though she ruled out cancellation of all international flights as it was unfeasible, the health minister assured the House there was a fool-proof mechanism at airports for screening overseas passengers.

Suspect cases were quarantined and allowed to go only after urine, blood, sputum and nasal discharge samples had tested negative.

Swaraj also said a central control room in her ministry headed by the DGHS was keeping a watch on developments.

Health counters manned by doctors have been set up at 12 international and nine customs airports.

Swaraj also refuted the Opposition's claim that the government was concealing SARS cases. "We are hiding nothing and we update the media every day so that nothing is left to assumption," she said.

In Pune, doctors have quarantined 25 guests and the priest who were at the wedding of Julie D’Silva, (who tested positive for SARS on Monday along with her brother and mother).

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