Frequently Asked Questions on
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
1 / 2 / 3
Q : What are the symptoms of SARS ?
A : The main symptoms of SARS are high fever (> 38� Celsius), dry cough, shortness of breath or breathing difficulties. Changes in chest X-rays indicative of pneumonia also occur. SARS may be associated with other symptoms, including headache, muscular stiffness, loss of appetite, malaise, confusion, rash and diarrhoea.
Q : How contagious is SARS ?
A : Based on currently available evidence, close contact with an infected person is needed for the infective agent to spread from one person to another. Close contact appears to be required. Close contact with aerosolized droplets and bodily secretions from an infected person appears to be important. To date, the majority of cases have occurred in hospital workers who have cared for SARS patients and the close family members of these patients. However, the amount of the infective agent needed to cause
an infection has not yet been determined.
Q : How should SARS patients be managed?
A : Patients should be placed in an isolation unit. Strict respiratory and mucusol barrier nursing are recommended. It is very important that suspected cases are separated from other patients and placed in their own hospital room. Health care workers and visitors should wear efficient filter masks, goggles, aprons, head covers, and gloves when in close contact with the patient. Hospital Infection Control Guidance
Q : What is the treatment for SARS ?
A : While some medicines have been tried, no drug can, at this time, be recommended for prophylaxis or treatment. Antibiotics do not appear to be effective. Symptoms should be treated by adequately protected health professionals. As a result of good supportive care, some patients in Hanoi have been transferred from critical care wards to regular wards.
Q : When will this disease be identified ?
A : An international multicenter research project to expedite identification of the causative agent was established on Monday 17 March. Eleven top labs in ten countries are consulting daily and are working together to identify the causative agent. Various specimens have been
collected from cases and post-mortem examinations. Laboratory tests are ongoing and a candidate causative infectious is under investigation.
Q : How fast does SARS spread ?
A : SARS appears to be less infectious than influenza. The incubation period is believed to be short, around 3-6 days. However, the speed of international travel creates a risk that cases can rapidly spread around the world.
Q : Where and when was the first case of SARS reported ?
A : On 26 February, a man was admitted to hospital in Hanoi with high fever, dry cough, myalgia (muscle soreness) and mild sore throat. Over the next four days he developed increasing breathing difficulties, severe thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) and signs of adult respiratory distress syndrome requiring ventilator support.
Q : How many cases of SARS have been reported to date ?
A : From 1 February to 18 March, 219 cases including four deaths have been reported. In the early stages the symptoms are similar to those of many diseases including influenza. Heightened awareness about the disease, and the vigilance of health authorities around the world, have resulted in a close watch for suspected cases and rapid and thorough reporting. Not all of these suspected cases may prove to be SARS. There are many reports and
rumors coming in from around the world, but quite a few of these will turn out to be normal wintertime activity of diseases like influenza whose early symptoms are similar. The cummulative number of cases and deaths is continuously updated on the WHO web site .
Q : How many countries report cases of SARS ?
A . As of 18 March, cases had been reported from eight countries. Of these, four countries have only imported cases with no documented local transmission, indicating that the disease is not spreading in these countries and residents are not at risk.
1 / 2 / 3