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A New Disease Called SARS
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is investigating a new
disease called Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The disease was first
reported among people in Hong Kong and the Guangdong Province of China, and
Hanoi (Vietnam). It has since spread to other countries.
Current SARS Situation: October 6, 2004
Currently, there is no known SARS transmission anywhere in
the world. The most recent human cases of SARS-CoV infection were reported in
China in April 2004 in an outbreak resulting from laboratory-acquired
infections (see link for more details). CDC and its partners, including the
World Health Organization, continue to monitor the SARS situation globally.
Any new updates on disease transmission and SARS preparedness activities will
be posted at this site
Symptoms of SARS
In general, SARS begins with a fever greater than 100.4°F [38.0°C]. Other symptoms may include headache, an overall feeling of discomfort, and body aches. Some people also experience mild respiratory symptoms. After 2 to 7 days, SARS patients may develop a dry cough and have trouble breathing.
How SARS Spreads
Public health experts think that SARS is spread by close contact between people, most likely when someone sick with the disease coughs droplets into the air and someone else breathes them in. It is possible that SARS also can spread more broadly through the air or from touching objects that have become contaminated. To find out more about SARS, go to CDC's SARS Web site and the World
Health Organization's SARS Web site. These Web sites are updated daily.
Who is at risk for SARS
Cases of SARS continue to be reported mainly 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 taking care of a SARS patient. In the United States, there is no indication of community spread at this time. CDC continues to monitor this situation very closely.
What you should do to protect yourself
CDC has issued interim guidelines for patients with suspected SARS in the healthcare setting and in households. These guidelines may change as we learn more about SARS. If you get sick with the symptoms described above and have been in close contact with someone who might have SARS, see your health care provider.
If you think you (or someone in your family) might have SARS, you should:
· Consult a health care provider as soon as possible.
· Cover your mouth and nose with tissue when coughing or sneezing. If you have a surgical mask, wear it during close contact with other people. A mask can reduce the number of droplets coughed into the air.
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This site was last updated
01/07/05
