Media Release

For Immediate Release
Date: May 15, 2003
Contact: Robert J. Marshall Ph.D. 222-101

Health Department Reports Probable Case of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

Providence, RI—The RI Department of Health (HEALTH) today announced a probable case of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in a RI resident. The individual, a 38 year old female from Providence County, became ill with fever, headache and a cough progressing to shortness of breath following travel to Toronto in mid April. She received medical evaluation, was admitted and remains isolated at a local hospital where she is receiving active treatment. Due to patient confidentiality, the individual’s name and other identifying information cannot be released.

"We consider this a probable SARS case," said Dr. Patricia A. Nolan, Director of HEALTH, "because this individual met the CDC criteria-- including severe respiratory illness, x-ray findings and recent travel in one of the SARS-affected areas. We are identifying all close contacts, both personal contacts and health care workers who may have been exposed, and placed several individuals on a "fever watch" (daily active monitoring by public health officials.) Again, the prompt reporting and follow-up of this case demonstrates that our close monitoring of the population is working and that community health care providers are playing a key role."

CDC defines a probable case of SARS as a respiratory illness meeting the following conditions:

Fever of 100.4 °F or higher; AND

Severe respiratory illness (cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing) AND

Radiographic (X-ray) evidence of pneumonia or respiratory distress syndrome, AND

Recent travel to China (including Hong Kong and Taiwan); 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.)

HEALTH routinely collects biological specimens from suspect and probable SARS cases for testing by the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Since laboratory tests are new, are being validated and are not widely available, they are not yet being used to classify cases.

People experiencing unexplained respiratory illness on or after Feb. 1, 2003 and who meet the travel and/or exposure criteria should seek medical attention, preferably by telephone, 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