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Panic as two SARS suspects arrive in Colombo
By Nalaka Nonis
The mysterious virus terrifying Asia caused a major scare in Sri Lanka yesterday when two foreigners suspected to be infected with SARS were detected at the Katunayake airport and the Colombo port.

Amidst panic, confusion and protests, they were rushed to the Infectious Diseases Hospital at Angoda for further examination, but by evening, both of them reportedly got themselves discharged -- causing further alarm as to their whereabouts.

The first suspected patient, a Filipina crew member of a West Asian airline, was detected at the Katunayake airport at 1.25 a.m. yesterday. The suspected SARS patient was immediately sent to the IDH.

The second suspected patient was a Japanese who had come to Sri Lanka on a ship. He too was immediately rushed to the IDH for examination. But both suspected patients got themselves discharged from the IDH on their own will, after being in the hospital for few hours. It is reported that both suspected patients have gone back to their countries.

Doctors said they could not forcibly keep the patients. The suspected Japanese patient who was admitted to the IDH around 2 p.m. got himself discharged from the hospital around 4 p.m. because his ship was to leave Sri Lanka at 6 p.m.

IDH medical chief Dr. Rosmond Rupasena told The Sunday Times that the two suspected patients were asked to stay in the IDH for further examination but they got discharged on their own will.

Panic and pandemonium erupted at the IDH when these two suspected patients were brought there, with doctors and medical staff seen running around to find face masks as the epidemic is known to be highly infectious.

Fearing infection from the two suspected SARS patients, more than 25 patients who are suffering from other infectious diseases had left the IDH and there was only one patient in the hospital.

Residents of Angoda have also been protesting against the decision to bring any suspected SARS patients to that hospital. They say authorities must take the strictest preventive measures before bringing any patient to Angoda.

Hospital officials said the two suspected SARS patients had been brought there after they were found to have symptoms such as cough, high fever and a chill.
See related story (SARS: It won't come here if you don't go there )

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