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Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
PUBLIC HEALTH FACT SHEET
June 16, 2003
What is SARS?
SARS, also known as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, is a respiratory illness that has recently been reported in Asia, North America, and Europe. The areas most affected include Hanoi (Vietnam), People’s Republic of China, Singapore, and Toronto (Canada). As of June 16, 2003, 72 probable cases of SARS have been reported in the United States.
What are the symptoms of SARS?
The illness usually begins with a fever greater than 100.4°F. The fever is sometimes associated with chills or other symptoms, including headache, body aches and tiredness. Some people may also experience mild respiratory symptoms. After 2 to 7 days (some people have reported developing symptoms after 10 days), the person may develop a dry cough and may experience difficulty breathing.
Is SARS dangerous?
Most people who get SARS recover, but a small percentage of people have died. In 10 to 20 percent of cases, patients will require mechanical ventilation. The risk for severe infection increases as the age of a person increases. Those persons greater than 65 years are at the highest risk.
Who is at risk for getting SARS?
Most of the U.S. cases of SARS have occurred among travelers returning to the United States from other parts of the world. There have been very few cases as a result of spread to close contacts such as family members and health care workers. Currently, there is no evidence that SARS is spreading more widely in the community in the United States.
How long would it take to develop symptoms after being exposed to SARS?
The incubation period (time between the exposure to the disease and the appearance of the first symptom) for SARS is typically 2 to 7 days. There have been people who developed symptoms after 10 days. The illness usually begins with a fever (>100oF).
Can a person who has SARS and recovers become sick again or relapse?
At this time we do not know. We do not yet understand the natural course of the illness in persons infected with the SARS coronavirus (SARS Co-V). It will be important to learn what factors might influence illness progression and recovery. Such factors could be related to the virus itself, how the body’s immune system reacts to the virus, how infection with the virus is treated, or other possibilities. Scientists are now trying to learn the answers to these questions.
What is the treatment for SARS?
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) currently recommends that patients with SARS receive the same treatment that would be used for any patient with serious community-acquired atypical pneumonia (pneumonia caused by a virus or type of bacteria known as Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Symptoms include: low fever, dry cough, sore throat, muscle pain).
How does SARS spread?
The primary way that SARS appears to spread is by close person-to-person contact. Most cases of SARS have involved people who cared for or lived with someone with SARS, or had direct contact with infectious material (for example, respiratory secretions) from a person who has SARS. Potential ways in which SARS can be spread include touching the skin of other people or objects that are contaminated with infectious droplets and then touching your eye(s), nose, or mouth. This can happen when someone who is sick with SARS coughs or sneezes droplets onto themselves, other people, or nearby surfaces. It is also possible that SARS can be spread more broadly through the air or by other ways that are currently not known.
What does “close person-to-person contact mean?
Close person-to-person contact might occur between people who live in the same household or if someone is providing care to a SARS patient. Examples include kissing or embracing, sharing eating or drinking utensils, close conversation (within 3 feet), physical examination, and any other direct physical contact between people. Close contact does NOT include activities such as walking by a person or sitting across a waiting room or office for a brief period of time.
If a person has SARS how long are they infectious to others?
Information to date suggests that people who have SARS are most likely to be infectious when they have symptoms, such as fever or cough. However, it is not known how long before or after their symptoms begin that patients with SARS might be able to transmit the disease to others.
How can I protect myself against SARS?
There are some common-sense measures that you can take to prevent the spread of SARS that apply to many infectious diseases. The most important is frequent hand washing with soap and water or use of alcohol-based hand rubs. In addition, you should avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unclean hands and encourage people around you to cover their nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
What causes SARS?
The World Health Organization announced on 16 April 2003, that a new pathogen, a virus that is a member of the coronavirus family never before seen in humans, is the probable cause of SARS. The identification of this virus was the result of work done collaboratively in 13 laboratories from 10 countries. WHO and member laboratories have named the new coronavirus as “SARS Co-V” virus.
What are coronaviruses?
Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that have a halo or crown-like (corona) appearance when viewed under a microscope. These viruses are a common cause of mild to moderate upper-respiratory illness in humans and are associated with respiratory, gastrointestinal, liver and neurologic disease in animals.
How long can the SARS coronovirus (SARS Co-V) survive in the environment? Some studies are suggesting that the virus may survive in the environment for several days. The length of time that the virus survives likely depends on a number of factors. These factors could include the type of material or body fluid containing the virus and various environmental conditions such as temperature or humidity. That coronoviruses can live outside the body emphasizes the importance of frequent hand washing with soap and water or use of alcohol-based hand rubs if hands are not visibly dirty.
Should I be concerned about buying items that are made in countries where SARS has been found?
SARS appears to be transmitted mainly by direct contact with infectious material, including large respiratory droplets spread in the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Touching objects contaminated with infectious droplets and then touching your eye(s), nose, or mouth could result in transmission of SARS. Contamination of environmental surfaces would be a particular concern in health-care settings and households where a patient with SARS is recovering. Furniture, clothing, and other items imported from countries where SARS has been found would be expected to pose little, if any, risk of transmission of SARS.
Travel questions:
Are there any travel restrictions related to SARS?
At this time there are no travel restrictions in place that are directly related to SARS. However, CDC does provide travel recommendations that periodically change depending on the situation.
A TRAVEL ALERT informs travelers of a health concern in a particular area and provides advice about specific precaution that should be taken. A TRAVEL ADVISORY notifies travelers of potential more serious situations and advises that non-essential travel be postponed. See CDC’s travel site at: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/travel.htm.
What if I must travel to a country where there is a community spread of SARS? What precautions can I take?
The first line of defense is careful hand hygiene. 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. The use of masks while in public areas is not recommended.
What should I do if I have recently traveled to a country where SARS has been reported?
You should monitor your own health for 10 days following your return. If you become ill with a cough and/or fever of over 100.4°F and develop difficulty breathing you should contact your primary 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. Call your health care provider before your visit so that precautions can be taken to limit spread of illness to others.
Should you avoid contact with co-workers or classmates who traveled recently?
At this point there is no evidence that a person without symptoms may transmit SARS to other people and it is very unlikely to be possible. Persons without symptoms who have traveled to high-risk areas do not need to be isolated or quarantined. Respiratory symptoms in a person without a recent history of travel to a high-risk area or close contact with a SARS patient are most likely caused by other common respiratory illnesses. Respiratory illness is very common, so most respiratory illness, even in people returning from parts of the world with SARS risk, will not be SARS
How can I help prevent SARS?
You can prevent SARS by not traveling to places where there are known cases of SARS. Do not come into close contact with anyone who is known or suspected to have SARS. Also, as with any contagious illness, proper hand washing is an important step everyone can take to reduce the spread of sickness. Wash your hands often with soap and hot water, or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if water is not available.
What is Rhode Island doing to monitor for and prevent a possible outbreak of SARS in the State?
HEALTH is actively monitoring the SARS situation abroad, in the United States, and here in the State of RI. While there have been no confirmed cases identified in Rhode Island residents as of June 10, 2003, HEALTH will continue to link with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control to provide health care providers, hospitals and the public with the latest information on SARS.
Where can I find more information on SARS?
For more information contact Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) Office of Communicable Diseases
(401) 222-2577 or
www.HEALTH.ri.gov
or Contact the
Family Health Information Line at 1-800-942-7434 |
