Punked at Work!

I hate to admit that I was "punked" at work yesterday --- the TW Bangalore office is infamous for playing pranks. I completely fell for the prank (although I did think it was strange that this would happen after I've been in India for 20+ days). My biggest concern wasn't that I would have to stay in my apartment for 14 days --- it was that I wouldn't be able to go to Pondicherry this weekend!

The following was written up by Sameer Deans ...

Background : Mr Shetty and I were sitting in Chennai office and getting bored while Immersion participants work on some task. We decide to plan a prank on Patty, the new GM in Bangalore. The idea was to say she has suspected swine flu and needs to be quarantined.

The following letter was prepared

Ms Patricia Marie Carlin

c/o ThoughtWorks Technologies (India) Pvt Ltd

2C Diamond District

HAL Airport Road

Bangalore 560 008

Subject: Quarantine of suspected Novel Influenza A H1N1 virus cases

Dear Ms Carlin,

Greetings from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. We welcome you to India and hope you have a pleasant stay here.

As per our records you entered the country on July 9, 2009 on Lufthansa flight LH 754 from Frankfurt, Germany. Your original port of departure was Newark, New Jersey, USA. Flight LH 754 carried a total of 331 passengers, of which 42 have already departed on onward journeys. Health authorities in the country have tracked a total of 7 cases of H1N1 from among the passengers. Since this puts the remaining 282 passengers and their families, friends and colleagues at serious risk, we have no option but to request a 14-day quarantine period effective immediately.

You are requested to remain in your current accommodation till the 14 day period expires. If you are co-habiting with others, we advise that you acquire separate accommodation for yourself immediately. If you notice influenza like symptoms e.g. fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you may contact you nearest health care provider, particularly if you are worried about your symptoms. Your health care provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed.

Under no circumstances are you to leave your accommodation during this period. Please note that any contravention of this advisory can result in prosecution and potential deportation from India.

This advisory is purely for the benefit of your health and safety and that of others around you. Please treat it responsibly.

Yours faithfully,

For Minister of Health & Family Welfare

Sripad and Sreedhar were the chosen government babus who needed to give her the news. They came to office dressed in formals and carrying some official looking folder. They gave her the letter, explained the situation to her and said they would be back at 2:30 pm with an ambulance in which she would be tested. If it was positive, she would have to go to hospital, else just quarantine.

Meanwhile, Mr B, Sita, Deepa were all in on this. Juanita called a meeting at 2:15 of all these folks as well as Patty. The 2 "government" babus came as well. Sita asked them how to avoid this situation and tried to "bribe" them. The truth came out soon after...