SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME (SARS)
As you may know, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), a respiratory illness, has recently been reported in Asia with more
recent cases appearing in North America and Europe. There have been no reported cases or suspected cases of SARS at Caltech.
What is SARS?
SARS is a respiratory illness that appears to be viral in nature with airborne transmission.
Symptoms:
High fever greater or equal to 100.5 F or > 38 C
Dry, non-productive cough (no phlegm)
Shortness of breath and breathing difficulties
SARS may be associated with other symptoms like headache, body aches, and loss of appetite, malaise, confusion, rash, or diarrhea.
Some people may experience mild respiratory symptoms at the outset. Symptoms generally appear within 2-7 days, with 3-5 days
being the most common number of days before symptoms appear. Isolated cases with an incubation period as long as 10 days have
been reported.
Who is at risk?
Individuals who are at most risk are those who have:
-respiratory symptoms including a fever of 100.5 or higher
-had close contact with a person who has SARS
-traveled to the following areas within the last 10 days*:
People’s Republic of China
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Hanoi, Vietnam
Singapore
*These areas of concern are likely to increase with time. Check the Center for Disease Controls SARS website for the
latest information http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/
How do you know if you have SARS?
Because the symptoms of SARS are similar to other respiratory illnesses, it is important to be in contact with your health care practitioner as
soon as possible when symptoms first appear. A diagnosis of SARS is currently made only if you have symptoms and have traveled within
the last 10 days to an area with a concentration of reported SARS cases, and/or have been exposed to someone with SARS. If you have
traveled to one of the areas mentioned but are not experiencing symptoms, monitor your health for 10 days from the time of your return and
contact your primary care physician if you begin to have symptoms including fever.
What if I have traveled within the last 10 days to one of the areas with reported SARS cases (China, Hong Kong, Hanoi, Singapore) and I have symptoms?
Because an essential part of controlling the spread of SARS is limiting exposure to those who are not currently infected we advise the following:
If you have respiratory symptoms including a fever and have traveled to areas with a concentration of SARS cases, and/or believe you have been in close contact with a person with SARS, call the Health Center immediately and speak with a medical professional about your symptoms. Do not come to the Health Center without calling first. We want to talk to you to determine your level of risk before advising you to come to the Health Center to prevent the possibility of exposing others. A medical professional will advise you as to what steps to take next.
If you have respiratory symptoms including a fever, have traveled to areas reporting a concentration of SARS cases and/or have had exposure to someone with SARS, you should call your primary care physician immediately. Do not go to your doctor’s office or to the Health Center. Again, preventing the spread of SARS is essential to controlling this illness. While it is sometimes difficult to get a quick appointment with your physician, in this case health care providers (physicians, nurse practitioners, etc.) are being instructed to respond very quickly to a patient reporting symptoms of SARS. Your primary care physician will advise you what to do.
What if I have symptoms but I haven’t traveled to any of the places currently experiencing SARS?
You are at lower risk of contracting SARS if you have not traveled to an area with reported infections or have not been exposed to someone who has SARS. But call your primary care physician and describe your symptoms and they will advise you.
What can I and other people do to reduce the chances of contracting or spreading SARS?
Should I wear a mask?
At this point a mask is not being recommended unless you believe that you may be exposed to a person who already has SARS. Contact your health care professional immediately if you believe you may have been exposed to SARS.
Resources for Health Updates
The information on SARS is continually being updated.
You can go to:
The Center for Disease Control’s Web site for more and updated information at
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/
Or the web site for the World Health Organization at
http://www.who.int/csr/sars/en/
If there are reported cases of SARS on campus you will be notified and instructed on any precautions and instructions on what to do.
Final Word
Illnesses such as SARS are of concern especially in the early stages when information on the illness is limited. Soon we will know more about the illness and more about it’s prevention. Keep in mind there have been no cases reported here at Caltech so your risk of contracting SARS on campus is very low. We’re taking the health risk seriously, which is the best way to minimize the risk to all of us, but there is no reason to be alarmed. Practice good hygiene; monitor your health, and talk to your health care provider if you have any questions or concerns.