Six days after the WHO declared India SARS-free, the country figured again on the WHO list of SARS-reporting countries with cases of not just 'suspects' but duly fits the WHO definition of SARS 'probables', which is the new definition to SARS positive cases.

The latest patient is a resident of Kolkata who is under treatment at present. According to WHO, the case was reported on May 5. However, there were other two similar cases have also been reported by the Ministry of Health on Wednesday, one each from Chhattisgarh and Gujarat states.

According to the new SARS positive definition, a suspected case having close contact with or a history of travel to the affected area and presenting symptoms of upper respiratory disease and high fever can be declared SARS positive if (a) the chest X-ray shows respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) or pneumonia; (b) or tests are positive for SARS virus; (c) or autopsy findings show RDS.

Earlier, the chest X-ray was being considered crucial to identify a SARS 'probable', and since in almost all cases in the country this was negative despite the laboratory test for the virus indicating otherwise, they were not labelled as SARS cases. Now the presence of any of the other two factors can make one a SARS 'probable'.

WHO officials in India say the Kolkata case fits the earlier definition of a SARS probable with even the X-Ray suggesting the same. They, however, add that all the 20 earlier cases, which could be called SARS 'probables' according to the revised definition have not been listed as reporting cases.

''We have decided to start reporting cases which test positive from May 1 as we were not sure of the testing facilities in the country earlier,'' said Dr N Kumara Rai, Director, Department of Communicable Diseases, WHO, South East Asia Region. ''The problem was they used to take just one specimen and even the diagnostic kit was not up to the mark,'' he added.

However, according to him, the present definition should not be considered conclusive and it can be changed every now and then.

The health ministry says things are under control and monitoring is being done in a stringent manner.

''The airport screening has been tightened and the Kolkata case was reported from the airport only. The Government is constantly monitoring disease surveillance and reporting in the country and making sure no case goes unreported,'' said a Health Ministry official.