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No clear evidence of epidemic: Red Cross

Basharat Peer in New Delhi

Dr A Goto, a medical expert in the Japanese medical delegation working with the International Federation of Red Cross at Bhuj, told rediff.com Thursday that there is no clear evidence of an epidemic spreading in Kutch.

Information Officer for the International Federation of Red Cross in New Delhi, Bijoy Patro, said: "We have not called any epidemic control specialists."

Patro said the organisation had set up four field hospitals with specialist doctors from Europe and Japan. A medical team from China is expected in a couple of days.

A 350-bed hospital is being set up at Bhuj and would be functional by Thursday evening. It will have advanced operative facilities and will manage anything from childbirth to neurosurgery.

To take care of the demand for clean water, a German water sanitisation unit has been installed in Bhuj. Medical teams of the Indian Red Cross and International Federation of Red Cross visited the affected villages on Wednesday.

"Our Norwegian hospital unit was however stranded at the Dubai airport till early morning due to lack of landing space at Bhuj. Some planes are stranded at Bhuj airbase as they need refuelling. Nobody is to blame...the Air Force is trying its best to help," Patro said.

The ICRC is stating the death toll to be 50,000 -- the number its South Asian Regional Delegation Head Bob Mc Kerrow quoted to a section of the press on Wednesday.

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