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What is SARS?
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Basic Information
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 Guangdong Province (China), Hanoi (Vietnam), and Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China). It has since spread to other countries. As of April 7, more than 100 cases of SARS had been reported in the United States. This fact sheet provides basic information about the disease and what is being done to combat its spread.
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. SARS is most likely spread 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.
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.
Possible Cause of SARS
Scientists at CDC and other laboratories have detected a previously unrecognized coronavirus in patients with SARS. While the new coronavirus is still the leading hypothesis for the cause of SARS, other viruses are still under investigation as potential causes.
The Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) Recommendations
For individuals considering travel to affected parts of Asia:
CDC advises that people planning elective or nonessential travel to mainland China and Hong Kong, Singapore, and Hanoi may wish to postpone their trips until further notice.
For individuals who think they might have SARS:
People with symptoms of SARS (fever of more than 100.4°F [>38.0°C] that is accompanied by a cough and/or difficulty breathing) should consult a health-care provider. To help the health-care provider make a diagnosis, tell them about any recent travel to places where SARS has been reported or whether there was contact with someone who had these symptoms.
For family members caring for someone with SARS:
CDC has developed interim infection control recommendations for patients with suspected SARS in the household. These basic precautions should be followed for 10 days after respiratory symptoms and fever are gone. During that time, SARS patients are asked to limit interactions outside the home (not go to work, school, or other public areas).
For health-care workers:
Transmission of SARS to health-care workers appears to have occurred after close contact with sick people before recommended infection control precautions were put into use. CDC has issued interim infection control recommendations for health-care settings as well as for the management of exposures to SARS in health-care and other institutional settings.
What CDC is Doing About SARS
CDC is working closely with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners in a global effort to address the SARS outbreak. For its part, CDC has taken the following actions:
Activated its Emergency Operations Center to provide round-the-clock coordination and response.
Committed more than 250 medical 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.
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.
Advice for Travelers about SARS
Background
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a new respiratory disease linked to travel to mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Hanoi (Vietnam).
In general, SARS starts with a fever higher than 100.4°F [>38.0°C]. Other symptoms may include headache, an overall feeling of discomfort, and body aches. Some people also feel short of breath. After 3 to 7 days, the person may get a dry cough and have trouble breathing.
Public health experts think that SARS is spread by close contact between people. For example, the disease can spread from someone who is sick with SARS to healthcare workers who have taken care of them or to family members. It is most likely spread when someone sick with SARS 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. SARS does not seem to spread easily by casual contact in large groups of people.
The World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are still looking into the causes of SARS.
For more on SARS, go to www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/index.htm.
New facts about SARS come up daily. Get the latest on how many people have SARS and what countries are touched, at www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/sars.htm and www.who.int/csr/sarscountry/en.
Before you travel
Don't go to mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Hanoi, unless you really have to. You can still go to Canada. SARS doesn't seem to spread there right now.
Be sure you are current on all your shots. See your health care provider at least 4 to 6 weeks before travel to get the latest shots and facts you need. For more on CDC health advice for travel abroad, see www.cdc.gov/travel.
Check your health insurance. You may want to get more coverage for medical evacuation in case you get sick abroad. For more on this, go to www.travel.state.gov/medical.html.
Ask the U.S. Department of State (DOS) about health care services in the country where you’re going. DOS has a list of foreign health care providers and health care facilities at www.travel.state.gov/acs.html#medical.
If you get sick while traveling in an area affected by SARS
See a health care provider and say that you’re worried about being exposed to SARS.
Don't travel while sick. Limit your contact with others as much as you can to help prevent the spread of any contagious disease you may have.
If you don't know of any provider in the foreign country, call the U.S. embassy or consulate to get the name of a provider.
As with all contagious diseases, the best way to not get sick is to wash your hands often with soap and water. If you don't have soap and water, use alcohol-based hand rubs.
When you come back home from areas affected by SARS
If you were sick on your trip or return home sick, see your health care provider right away. Mention your symptoms and the countries you visited. You may be asked to fill out a form about your disease and give your name and address to public health authorities.
If you leave an area affected by SARS, a screener may ask you about your health before you board the plane.
If you come back from areas affected by SARS, you will get a travel alert card when you land. If you're not sick and didn't get sick abroad but may have been in touch with someone with SARS, check your health for the next 10 days.
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