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SARS: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Spreads Worldwide
Edited by: Mary Schroeder, M.S., R.D. & Pat Kendall, Ph.D., R.D., Colorado State - Spring 2003
A little over a month ago, only a handle of health officials had heard of a mysterious pneumonia-like illness known as SARS (Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome). But since the World Health Organization (WHO) issued its first alert about SARS on March 12, 2003, the disease has been linked to 165 deaths and is believed to have infected over 3,000 people in 17 countries. In the U.S., 208 cases of SARS have been identified (as of April 16, 2003), 6 in Colorado, with no deaths thus far.
In this short time, officials have also zeroed in on the likely cause of SARS (a previously unknown form of the coronavirus), issued strict travel restrictions and quarantines to contain the spread of the disease, and developed at least three potential tests to screen for the disease.
What is SARS? SARS is a respiratory illness that usually begins with a fever (>100.4ºF). Other symptoms may include chills, headache, an overall feeling of discomfort, and body aches. Some people also experience mild respiratory symptoms at the outset. After 2 to 7 days, SARS patients may develop a dry, nonproductive cough that might be accompanied by or progress to the point where insufficient oxygen is getting to the blood. In 10% to 20% of cases, patients will require mechanical ventilation.
How is SARS spread? 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. 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 causes SARS? Scientists at CDC and other laboratories have detected a previously unrecognized coronavirus in patients with SARS. Coronaviruses are a common cause of mild to moderate upper-respiratory illness in humans and are associated with respiratory, gastro-intestinal, liver and neurologic disease in animals.
Is there a test for SARS? No "test" is available yet for SARS; however, CDC, in collaboration with WHO and other laboratories, has developed two research tests that appear to be very promising in detecting antibodies to the new coronavirus. CDC is working to refine and share this testing capability with laboratories across the U.S. and internationally.
CDC Recommendations for protecting yourself against SARS: CDC has issued several advisories to help contain the spread of SARS. First, the agency recommends against elective or nonessential travel to affected parts of Asia. Persons who think they may have SARS should not go to work, school or other public areas, but seek evaluation from their doctor. CDC has also developed interim infection control recommendations for patients with suspected SARS in the household and their family members. These basic precautions should be followed until 10 days have passed since the presence of any fever or respiratory symptoms. During that time, SARS patients are asked to limit interactions outside the home (not go to work, school, or other public areas). The CDC also has issued guidelines for health-care workers. These include: interim infection control recommendations for health-care settings and information on the management of exposures to SARS in health-care and other institutional settings.
Finally, as with other infectious illnesses, one of the most important and appropriate preventive practices is careful and frequent hand hygiene. Cleaning your hands often using either soap and water or waterless alcohol-based hand sanitizers removes potentially infectious materials from your skin and helps prevent disease transmission.
Sources: CDC website on SARS, www.cdc.gov/ncidod/SARS; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Coronavirus Testing - United States, 2003, MMWR, 52(14)297-302, 2003. 