Goa gears up to tackle SARS

The Goa government is taking steps to identify Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-infected travellers at the Dabolim airport and the Mormugao harbour.

The government has deployed medical officers at both places and travellers are required to disclose their medical history.

The government has also appointed Dr Rajan Kunkolienkar as the nodal officer at the Goa Medical College in Panaji, which has a separate ward for those suspected to be having SARS.

"We are planning to shift this ward to Chicalim, in the port town of Vasco, which is close to both the airport as well as the harbour," Health Minister Suresh Amonkar, who is practising doctor, said.

Over 250,000 tourists come to Goa every year. Most of them are from Britain, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France, the United States, Australia, Holland and Ireland.

Dr Amonkar expressed helplessness in checking bus stands and railway stations, because Goa receives visitors from other parts of India as well.

"The country needs to be vigilant at all the airports, including domestic ones," he said.