New Delhi: There is no possibility of a Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic in India owing to its "very good" disease surveillance system but small outbreaks may occur, a World Health Organisation (WHO) official said on May 22.

"India has a very good surveillance system. For example, a case, if occurs in a remote tribal area, may be detected late, but once it is detected, the entire system will be alerted," Dr N Kumara Ray, Director Communicable Diseases, WHO, said at a discussion on SARS.

Thus, SARS epidemic cannot occur in India, but small outbreaks may occur if the disease strikes, he said.

Ray said that WHO did not recommend screening of incoming passengers. Only parting people from the affected areas should be screened.

But many countries were screening incoming passengers for extra precaution. "If they can afford, they can do it," he said adding they were actually exceeding WHO's recommendation.

Stating that some countries' initiative to install thermal image scanner to know about the temperature of incoming passengers at airports was an "inefficient" measure that was not cost effective, Ray said fever was a symptom in any illnesses.

Ray said that though scientists were working on SARS vaccine, it would take at least three-four years. By then the SARS virus might mutate.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr K N Tewari, medical health officer, MCD, said there had been overreaction to SARS. Delhi had made SARS a notifiable disease, which necessitates that government is informed of any SARS case in the state.

PTI