Media Release

For Immediate Release
Date: May 21, 2003 
Contact: Robert J. Marshall Ph.D. 222-1017

Health Department Withdraws Probable SARS Case Toronto Exposure Not Confirmed

Providence, RI-The RI Department of Health (HEALTH) today withdrew its previous report (May 15, 2003) of 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. However, extensive follow-up on the individual's claims of travel to Toronto in mid April could not be confirmed. This patient was hospitalized, treated and discharged. Due to patient confidentiality, the individual's name and other identifying information cannot be released.

 "We originally considered this a probable SARS case," said Dr. Patricia A. Nolan, Director of HEALTH, "because this individual met the CDC criteria-particularly involving exposure from recent travel in one of the SARS-affected areas. After a few days, however, the information we received about travel became suspect and could not be confirmed. Without any confirmation of exposure, this cannot be classified as a case. CDC agrees and removed the incident from the official list of US cases. This is the way the system should work. We are being very cautious so that we do not miss a case of SARS."