Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)

For Immediate Release
Date: March 20, 2003
Contact: Robert J. Marshall Ph.D. 222-1017

Health Department Reports Suspect Case of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

Providence, RI—The RI Department of Health (HEALTH) today announced a suspect case of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in a RI resident. The individual, an adult male, recently became ill with a mild cough and fever while traveling to one of the Asian countries experiencing SARS cases. He received medical attention upon returning to the state in early March and is almost completely recovered without hospitalization. Due to patient confidentiality, the individual’s name, age, town of residence or other identifying information cannot be released."We consider this a suspect case," said Dr. Patricia A. Nolan, Director of HEALTH, "because this individual had ‘flu-like’ symptoms, a fever, and recently traveled to one of the affected Southeast Asian countries. We took clinical specimens to hold for analysis by the National Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) and investigated close contacts to rule out any additional suspect cases or further risk to the RI population." HEALTH also sent a written advisory about the disease to health care providers in the state on March 17 and requested immediate reporting of any suspect cases.The CDC and World Health Organization (WHO) issued alerts on March 14 after learning of several cases of atypical respiratory illnesses in Canada among people who had just returned from traveling in Southeast Asia. Yesterday CDC reported 11 suspected cases of SARS from 10 US states. Health officials now suspect that a paramyxovirus, similar to the virus that causes mumps and measles, may play a role in the SARS outbreak..CDC defines a case of SARS as a respiratory illness meeting the following conditions:

• Fever of 100.4 ° or higher; ANDCough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, or abnormal chest x-ray; ANDRecent travel to Hong Kong; Guangdong Province, China; Hanoi, Viet Nam; Singapore; or Toronto, Canada within 10 days of the onset of symptoms; OR
• Close contact with a person with respiratory illness who is suspected of having SARS. Close contact includes having cared for, lived with, or had direct contact with respiratory secretions or body fluids of a person with SARS. (Casual contact is not likely to be a risk.)

People experiencing unexplained respiratory illness on or after Feb. 1, 2003 and who meet the above criteria should seek medical attention and should inform their health care provider about their recent travel or possible exposure to SARS. Health care providers should report any suspected case of SARS to Office of Communicable Disease (222-2577). For more information consult: www.HEALTH.ri.gov or www.cdc.gov.