Growing Number of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Cases

No cases reported in United States at this time

Little Rock — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization are intensively investigating an outbreak of SARS, a severe and acute respiratory syndrome of unknown cause.  The Arkansas Department of Health is monitoring the situation in the state and will take appropriate action should cases occur in Arkansas.

Cases have been reported in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Guangdong Province; People’s Republic of China; Hanoi, Vietnam; Indonesia; Philippines; Singapore and Toronto, Canada.  Approximately 150 cases and 9 deaths have been reported. 

Nearly all cases have occurred in individuals who have traveled to Guangdong Province, China, or who have had close contact to other cases.  Many of the cases have occurred in healthcare workers who cared for other individuals with symptoms. 

The following are diagnostic criteria for a suspect case:

• Fever over 38 degrees Celsius or 100.4 Fahrenheit

AND

• One or more signs or symptoms of respiratory illness including cough, shortness of breath, radiographic findings of pneumonia, or respiratory distress

AND one or more of the following -

• History of travel to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Guangdong Province; People’s Republic of China; Hanoi, Vietnam; Indonesia; Philippines; Singapore and Toronto, Canada
  
  

• Close direct and sustained contact with persons with respiratory illness who have traveled to one or more of these areas.  Close contact includes having cared for, having lived with or having had direct contact with respiratory secretions and body fluids of those individuals diagnosed with SARS.

Individuals who have not traveled to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Guangdong Province; People’s Republic of China; Hanoi, Vietnam; Indonesia; Philippines; Singapore and Toronto, Canada within 10 days and who have not had close (lived with or cared for the person or had contact with respiratory secretions or other bodily fluids) contact with a case should not be suspected of having SARS.  People who have done these things, and within 10 days develop fever over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit and respiratory symptoms such as cough and difficulty breathing should be suspected of having SARS, and they should seek medical attention immediately. 

CDC advises that persons planning elective or nonessential travel to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Guangdong Province; People’s Republic of China; Hanoi, Vietnam; Indonesia; Philippines; Singapore and Toronto, Canada may wish to postpone their trips until further notice. 

The Arkansas Department of Health emphasizes that SARS only affects people who have visited affected areas or been in close contact with cases. 

The Arkansas Department of Health would like to emphasize that SARS is a condition affecting individuals that meet only the above criteria. 

• Physicians should report all suspected cases to the health department at 800.482.8888 and call the CDC’s Emergency Operations Center at 770.488.7100.

• The general public can get more information from the Arkansas Department of Health at 1.800.554.5738 or from your personal physician.  Additional information on SARS is available at www.cdc.gov and www.who.int and is being updated frequently as new information becomes available.  The general public may also call CDC at 1.888.246.2675.

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