General Questions
1. What is SARS? [also see this link]
SARS (or SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME) is an atypical pneumonia
of unknown aetiology.
2. When was SARS discovered? [For a chronological history
of the SARS Virus, click here]
SARS was recognized at the end of February 2003. However, the
virus was already spreading rampantly in China from Late November
2002.
3. How does one know that one has contracted
SARS?
The U.S. Department of State Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified the following
three criteria, which must ALL be present, by which a potential
SARS case may be identified, for those with the onset of illness
after February 1, 2003:
- Fever greater than 38° C (100.4°F),
AND
- One or more signs or symptoms of respiratory
illness including
- cough, shortness of breath
- difficulty breathing
- hypoxia (low oxygen in the blood)
- x-ray findings of pneumonia
- respiratory distress, AND
- One or more of the following within 7
days of the onset of symptoms
- Travel to Hong Kong
- Travel to Singapore
- Travel to Guangdong and Beijing Province
(China)
- Travel to Hanoi, Vietnam; and/or
- close contact with a person who has been
diagnosed with SARS
4. What is meant by "close contact"?
- close contact means having cared for a
person with SARS, or direct care of patients with SARS
- having lived with a person with SARS
- having had direct contact with respiratory
secretions and body fluids of a person with SARS
5. What is the incubation period of
SARS?
The incubation period between exposure
to infection and the development of symptoms appears to range
from 2-10 days, with 3-5 days being more common.
6. How contagious is SARS ?
SARS appears to be less infectious
than influenza. Close contact with an infected person is needed
for the infective agent to spread from one person to another,
such as contact with aerosolized (exhaled) droplets and bodily
secretions from an infected person (e.g. through coughs and sneezes)
7. Is there any way to prevent contracting
SARS? [For
more on Prevention, click here]
- Currently, prevention of new cases is
based on individuals avoiding close contact with SARS patients.
For definitions of "close contact", please see point
2.
- However, the speed of international travel
creates a risk that cases can rapidly spread around the world.
8. Who is most vunerable at being infected
with SARS?
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.
9. What should I do if I suspect myself
or someone to have SARS?
- be promptly evaluated by medical personnel
- if necessary admitted to a hospital
- limit their interactions outside hospital
settings
- wear a surgical mask while in health units
or other ambulatory care settings, during transport and when
in contact with others at home.
10. What virus is SARS caused by?
Doctors initially suspected the paramyxovirus,
the family of viruses that cause measle, as it was found in one
patient. However, latest confirmation is that a form of Coronavirus
is the cause of SARS. For more on Coronaviruses, click
here.
11. Is there any cure for SARS? [For more on Prevention,
click here]
There are currently no known medicines to treat SARS. However,
several people believe that traditional chinese medicine has
the effect of preventing SARS. For more infomation on traditional
cures, click here.
12. How many cases of SARS have been
reported to date ?
From 1 February to 24 March, an
estimated 456 cases including seventeen deaths have been reported.
The latest figures from the WHO website can be viewed here.
13. How many countries report cases
of SARS ?
As of 24 March, cases had been
reported from thirteen countries. The latest figures from the
WHO website can be viewed here.
14. How can SARS be prevented? [For more on Prevention,
click here]
Information is available from the Hong King Department of Health.
The link can be accessed at http://www.info.gov.hk/info/ap_leaflet_e.htm
Face Masks
15. Could
atypical pneumonia be prevented by wearing facemasks? [For more on Prevention,
click here]
Wearing facemasks would help to prevent contracting the disease.
It is advisable that the public should maintain good personal
and environmental hygiene.
16. Who should wear facemasks?
The following people should wear a facemask:
- People with respiratory symptoms
- People who care for patients with respiratory
symptoms
- People who have close contact with confirmed
cases of atypical pneumonia should wear facemask for 7 days starting
from last contact
- Healthcare worker
17. What type of facemask should be
used for prevention of the illness?
Ordinary surgical facemasks are effective in preventing the spread
of droplet infection.
18. Is N95 facemask the only effective
model to prevent atypical pneumonia?
Surgical facemasks and N95 facemask are both effective in preventing
the spread of droplet infection.
19. How often do we replace one's facemask?
In general, a surgical facemask can be continuously used for
several hours under ordinary condition. One should replace the
facemask immediately when it is worn out or damaged.
20. How long can Coronaviruses survive?
Coronaviruses
typically can survive for two to three hours on inanimate surfaces.
21. What can I do to ensure that I don't
contract the disease?
- Keep away from crowded places
- Wash your hands with soap and water regularly
- Use an alcohol-based hand rub frequently
- Consult a doctor immediately if you suspect
that you have any of the symptoms of SARS
Travel
[To view procedure of world airports
against SARS, click here]
22. Is the U.S. government restricting
travel to countries where there are cases of SARS?
Travel is not being restricted, but a CDC advisory recommends
postponing elective or non-essential travel to Singapore, Hanoi,
China and Hong Kong. People who have recently visited a country
where SARS has been reported are advised to monitor their health
for 10 days after their return home and consult a doctor if they
develop a high fever with cough or trouble breathing.
23. What about people coming to the
USA from SARS countries?
Health officials are meeting planes, cargo ships and cruise ships
that have come from China, Singapore and Vietnam. Passengers
are given alert cards advising them to monitor their health for
at least 10 days and to give the card to their physician if they
develop any symptoms. The alerts advise physicians who suspect
SARS to notify health officials.
24. What happens if I want to cancel
a trip to an affected area?
Several airlines are easing restrictions to allow reticketing
for a later date. But those policies vary. United, for example,
says passengers with tickets issued up to April 15 and scheduled
to fly to Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore or Vietnam
through May 31 can make one change for travel through Dec. 31
without penalty. American lets customers make one itinerary change
without penalty. Northwest says only passengers traveling within
SARS-affected areas in Asia who might be denied travel for medical
reasons will be able to change plans without any charges.
Self Protection
25. What should I do for during the
incubation period (10 days) if I suspect I have SARS?
- Limit interactions - SARS patients should limit interactions outside
the home and should not go to work, school, out-of-home day care,
or other public areas.
- Follow hygiene rules - During this 10-day period, all members of the
household with a SARS patient should carefully follow recommendations
for hand hygiene, such as frequent hand washing or the use of
alcohol-based rubs.
- Cover your mouth when you cough/sneeze - Each patient with SARS should cover his or her
mouth and nose with a tissue before sneezing or coughing. If
possible, a person recovering from SARS should wear a surgical
mask during close contact with uninfected people. If the patient
is unable to wear a surgical mask, others in the home should
wear masks when in close contact with the patient.
- Wear disposable gloves - Disposable gloves should be considered for any
contact with body fluids from a SARS patient. However, immediately
after activities involving contact with body fluids, gloves should
be removed and discarded and hands should be washed. Gloves should
not be reused, and are not intended to replace proper hand hygiene.
- Don't share utensils - SARS patients should avoid sharing eating utensils,
towels, and bedding with other members of the household, although
these items can be used by others after routine cleaning such
as washing or laundering with soap and hot water.
- Restrict outside activities of other
members - Other members of the
household need not restrict their outside activities unless they
develop symptoms of SARS such as a fever or respiratory illness.
Handwashing
26. When should I wash my hands?
- After sneezing or coughing, and after
contact with body/respiratory substances/fluids
- Before and after meals and breaks
- Before and after using the toilet
- Before and after smoking cigarettes
- Before and after preparing food
- When arriving home and before & after
work
27. What should I wash my hands with?
- Use soap
- Wash under warm running water, not boiling
water.
28. How should I wash my hands? [For
some recommended products, click here]
- Wet hands thoroughly. This helps increase
the effectiveness of the soap.
- Apply soap using friction. Lather well
for at least twenty seconds. Pay special attention to finger
tips and thumbs.
- Rinse well holding hands downward.
- Dry hands thoroughly with paper towel;
use paper towel to turn off taps. At home, try to use individual
towels and wash towels regularly.
- Properly dispose of paper towel.
29. How does washing hands with soap
kill the SARS virus?
Most viruses, like Sars, are envelope
viruses, meaning they have a protective membrane around them.
Once soap comes into contact with the envelope, it breaks the
membrane and the virus dies.
Household
30. In Hong Kong, the Amoy Gardens SARS
incident was spread through the sewerage pipes. How can I prevent
that from happening where I live?
In Hong Kong, the sewerage system is different
from other places, as each of the toilet system is not directly
connected to a water trap. Therefore, once the water evaporates,
smells and droplets can enter the toilet area. If you sewerage
system has water traps below each utility such as the toilet
bowl and sink, and as long as the water does not evaporate, there
will be less risk of that happening.
31. What if I am going away for some
time and there is no one in the house?
You should cover the water traps
in the toilet the best you can.
Quarantine
32. Where can I find more information
about SARS quarantine?
The CDC has a very comprehensive
fact sheet on isolation and quarantine measures that can be taken.
You can read it at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/isolationquarantine.htm
Classification of Cases
33. How do you classify SARS cases?
SARS cases can be classifed as "suspected" and "probable".
The details are:
(i) Suspect Case
A person presenting after 1 February 2003
with history of
- high fever (>38oC)
- one or more respiratory symptoms including
cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing AND
- one or more of the following:
- close contact* with a person who has been
diagnosed with SARS
- recent history of travel to areas reporting
cases of SARS
(ii) Probable Case
- A suspect case with chest x-ray findings
of pneumonia or Respiratory Distress Syndrome
- A person with an unexplained respiratory
illness resulting in death, with an autopsy examination demonstrating
the pathology of Respiratory Distress Syndrome without an identifiable
cause.
34. How does SARS kill?
SARS inflames the lungs. Death occurs through the swelling of
the airways as a due to a runaway immune response.
Information obtained from the following
website. More detailed information can be found at these sites:
1. U.S. Department of Stat, Bureau of Consular
Affairs
2. World Health Organisation [click here]
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[click
here]
4. HK Department of Health [click
here]
5. USAToday [click
here]
6. Toronto Public Health SARS Site [click
here] |
