What is Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)?
SARS is a respiratory illness that has recently been reported in Asia, North America, and Europe. For additional information, check the World Health Organization's (WHO) SARS website , the CDC website or the Texas Department of Health (TDH) .
What are the symptoms and signs of SARS?
CDC has determined that reported U.S. cases of SARS will be classified as suspect or probable based on the criteria outlined below:
Suspect Case
Respiratory illness of unknown origin with onset since February 1, 2003, and the following criteria:
- Measured temperature greater than 100.4°F (greater than 38°C) AND
- One or more clinical findings of respiratory illness (e.g., cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, or hypoxia) AND
- Travel within 10 days of onset of symptoms to an area with documented or suspected community transmission of SARS. Areas with documented or suspected community transmission of SARS: People's Republic of China (i.e., mainland China and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region); Hanoi, Vietnam; Singapore; and Toronto, Canada) OR
- Close contact* within 10 days of onset of symptoms with a person known to be a suspect SARS case.
Probable Case
A suspect case with one of the following:
- Radiographic evidence of pneumonia or respiratory distress syndrome
- Autopsy findings consistent with respiratory distress syndrome without an identifiable cause.
Travel includes transit in an airport in an area with documented or suspected community transmission of SARS.
*Close contact is defined as 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.
How is 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 also is possible that SARS can be spread more broadly through the air or by other ways that are currently not known.
How long is a person with SARS infectious to others?
Information to date suggests that people 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.
Who is most at risk of contracting SARS?
In the United States, cases of SARS continue to be reported primarily among people who have had direct close contact with an infected person, such as those sharing a household with a SARS patient and health-care workers who did not use infection control procedures while caring for a SARS patient. CDC continues to monitor this situation very closely.
How many cases of SARS have been reported so far?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced that reported U.S. cases of SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, will be classified as suspect or probable. CDC lists 220 cases reported and classifies 184 as suspect and 36 as probable. The 36 probable cases are from 18 states. The Dallas County Health Department reports that of April 21, 2003, there are 0 suspected cases of SARS in Dallas County. The Texas Department of Health reports 7 suspected cases in Texas.
Pneumonia is the primary criterion used to distinguish probable cases from suspect cases. CDC also added Toronto, Canada to the list of areas with suspected or documented community transmission of SARS. The list already included mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Hanoi, Vietnam.
All of the suspect cases from Texas had traveled to Hong Kong, Singapore or the Guangdong province of China. The seven are from Harris (2), Collin (2), Lubbock, Fort Bend and Travis counties. All are adults. None of the seven is hospitalized. Four have recovered. Three are recovering. The Lubbock County resident, who has recovered, had not been in that county since becoming ill. The Texas Department of Health (TDH) reports there is no connection between the two suspected cases from Harris County or the two suspected cases from Collin County.
More information about SARS is available on the Web at www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars. CDC updates a state-by-state Web listing of suspected case counts each workday by 4 p.m. CDT.
How many individuals have died from SARS?
As of April 21, 2003, the World Health Organization reports that there are 3,547 cases of SARS worldwide, with most of the cases in Southeast Asia. Of these cases, 182 have died from the disease. For more information, visit the WHO website.
The CDC is reporting that there have been no deaths in the United States from the disease. For more information, visit the CDC website.
For more information, visit the CDC website.
What is being done to combat this health threat?
Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) is practicing surveillance in alerting county area hospitals and physicians about the case definition for SARS. DCHHS is also working with TDH and CDC to address the SARS outbreak. For its part in this international effort, the CDC has taken the following actions:
- Activated its Emergency Operations Center to provide round-the-clock coordination and response.
- Committed more than 160 infectious disease experts and support staff to work on the SARS response.
- Deployed medical officers, epidemiologists, and other specialists to assist with on-site investigations around the world.
- Provided ongoing assistance to state and local health departments in investigating possible cases of SARS in the United States.
- Issued multiple notices providing guidance on ways to minimize the risk for SARS in health care facilities, in the household, when traveling, and in other settings.
- Conducted extensive laboratory testing of clinical specimens from SARS patients to identify the cause of the disease.
- Initiated a system for distributing health alert notices to travelers who may have been exposed to cases of SARS.
- DCHHS, TDH and CDC are committed to communicating regularly and effectively with public health professionals, elected leaders, clinicians, and the general public.
Individuals with symptoms of SARS should
see their physician immediately.
