Maharashtra reports six confirmed cases of SARS

MUMBAI: Altogether six confirmed cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) have been detected in Maharashtra, with a taxi driver, who drove the D''Silva family from Ambernath to Pune, testing positive for SARS on Monday.
The driver, whose name has not been disclosed by authorities, was found suffering from the dreaded disease after a report from National Institute of Virology confirmed that he had contracted the deadly virus.
The cabbie was the sixth patient to have tested positive besides Stanley D''Silva, his mother Vimla, sister Julie, maternal uncle Joseph and 32-year-old Bhaskar Murthy, who is currently in New Delhi.
Murthy, working for a Hong Kong based company, had been admitted to Kasturba Hospital on April 22 after he complained of chest pain and other symptoms. He was, however, discharged even before the NIV reports were received. Murthy subsequently flew down to New Delhi, where he is currently being treated.

Director of Health Services, S Salunkhe on Monday said that he would be submitting a report on the lapse by the doctors to release Murthy without the NIV test reports coming in. The report would be submitted to the civic authorities who would thereby take action against those responsible.
Altogether the state had received 12 suspected cases out of which six had been confirmed. two fresh cases were also reported from Pune and Ratnagiri, he added.