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Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
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Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
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Health Department Investigates SARS Suspect in Lucas County
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) appears to have originated in Asia. The first official cases were reported in late February. The number of cases is changing on a daily basis. The number of cases reported worldwide is available at www.who.int/csr/sarscountry/en.
The number of suspected cases in the U.S. and Ohio is available at www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/sars.htm. General information on SARS is provided below. Website links to additional information, press releases, and specific information for health care providers/laboratory workers are also provided.
What is SARS?
SARS is a respiratory illness that has recently been reported in Asia, North America, and Europe.
What are the symptoms and signs of SARS?
The illness usually begins with a fever (measured temperature greater than 100.4 F[>38.0 C]). The fever is sometimes associated with chills or other symptoms, including headache, general feeling of discomfort and body aches. After 2 to 7 days, SARS patients may develop a dry, nonproductive cough that might be accompanied by or progress to the point where insufficient oxygen is getting to the blood.
If I were exposed to SARS, how long would it take for
me to become sick?
The incubation period for SARS is typically 2-7 days; however, isolated reports have suggested an incubation period as long as 10 days.
Who is at risk for SARS?
- If you have recently traveled to any of the areas with documented or suspected community transmission of SARS. These include: Peoples' Republic of China (i.e., mainland China and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region); Hanoi, Vietnam; and Singapore.
- If you have had close contact with someone who has recently traveled to any of the areas with documented or suspected community transmission of SARS. These include: Peoples' Republic of China (i.e., mainland China and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region); Hanoi, Vietnam; and Singapore.
- If you have had close contact with someone with
SARS symptoms (i.e., having cared for, having lived with, or having
direct contact with respiratory secretions and/or body fluids of a
patient known to be suspect SARS case).
Will I get SARS if I have traveled to one of the affected areas?
Travel to one of the affected areas does not necessarily mean that you will get SARS. However, recent travel to any of affected areas increased your risk of being exposed to someone with SARS.
If you are returning or arriving from one of the affected areas, you should monitor your health for 10 days. If you become ill with fever accompanied by cough, or difficulty breathing, you should first call your physician and alert him or her about your recent travel to these regions and whether you were in contact with someone with SARS symptoms. You should also print out the advisory card located at www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/news.htm and present it to your physician during your scheduled visit. It is important that your health care provider or emergency room is informed that you might have SARS before going to the physician’s office or emergency room.
How is SARS spread?
The principal way SARS appears to be spread is through droplet transmission; namely, when someone sick with SARS coughs or sneezes droplets into the air and someone else breathes them in. It is possible that SARS can be transmitted more broadly through the air or from objects that have become contaminated.
What is the cause of SARS?
Scientists at CDC and other laboratories have detected a previously unrecognized coronavirus in patients with SARS. While the new coronavirus is still the leading hypothesis for the cause of SARS, other viruses are still under investigation as potential causes.
What should I do if I think I have SARS?
If you are ill with a fever of over 100.4°F[>38.0°C] that is accompanied by a cough or difficulty breathing or that progresses to a cough and/or difficulty breathing, you should call your health care provider. To help your health care provider make a diagnosis, tell him or her about any recent travel to regions where cases of SARS have been reported and whether you were in contact with someone who had these symptoms. It is important that your health care provider is informed that you might have SARS before going to the physician’s office or emergency room.
Should I travel to an area with SARS?
Current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) travel advisory and travel alert updates are available at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/travel.htm. As of April 23, 2003, the CDC has issued a travel advisory for people traveling to mainland China and Hong Kong; Singapore; and Hanoi, Vietnam. People planning elective or nonessential travel to any of these areas may wish to postpone their trips until further notice.
The CDC has also issued a travel alert for Toronto, Canada. Currently, all cases in Toronto are linked to Toronto’s original index case and spread has been through person-to-person contact. SARS transmission in Toronto has been limited to a small number of hospitals, households, and specific community settings. The CDC recommends that U.S. travelers to Toronto should observe precautions to safeguard their health. These precautions include:
Before you leave:
- Assemble a travel health kit containing basic first aid and medical supplies. Be sure to include a thermometer, household disinfectant, a supply of surgical masks and disposable gloves (for use if you or someone you are traveling with becomes ill with SARS), and alcohol-based hand rubs for hand hygiene.
- Inform yourself and others who may be traveling
with you about SARS. Information about this illness is available at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/index.htm .
- Be sure you are up to date with all your shots,
and see your health-care provider at least 4 to 6 weeks before travel to
get any additional shots or information you may need. For information on
CDC health recommendations for international travel, go to the CDC's
Travelers' Health site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/ .
- You may wish to check your health insurance
plan or get additional insurance that covers medical evacuation in the
event of illness. Information about medical evacuation services can be
found at http://www.travel.state.gov/medical.html .
- Identify in-country health-care resources in
advance of your trip.
While you are in an area with SARS:
- To protect against SARS infection, wash your hands frequently . As with many infectious diseases, the first line of defense is careful hand hygiene. As a general rule, it is good practice to wash hands frequently with soap and water; if hands are not visibly soiled, alcohol-based hand rubs may be used as an alternative.
- To minimize the possibility of infection, you
may wish to avoid close contact with large numbers of people as much as
possible. CDC does not recommend the routine use of masks or other
personal protective equipment while in public areas.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Press Releases
Information for health care providers/laboratory workers
Links for Additional Information
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