India reported its first case of SARS after Prashil Varde, a 32-year old marine engineer tested positive on Wednesday, in Goa.

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar made the announcement on Thursday at a hurriedly called press conference in Panjim.

"The patient has been cured after being treated at the Goa Medical College," Parrikar said.

Varde had landed in Mumbai on March 29 after a tour of Singapore. After a brief stay, he proceeded to Goa, which he reached on April 2. At that time, he suffered from mild fever.

He got himself admitted at the special SARS ward at the GMC. His blood test report was sent to the Institute of Virology in Pune, which on Wednesday confirmed that he was infected.

A team of the National Institute of Communicable Diseases is coming down to Goa on Friday for further examinations.

Health Minister Suresh Amonkar said Varde's wife does not show any sign of being infected, but appealed to all other people who came in touch with him to avoid public places as a precautionary measure.