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Documents from the 
Basic
Information
How to Protect Yourself
The
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.
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:
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Activated its Emergency Operations Center to provide
round-the-clock coordination and response. |
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Committed more than 250 medical experts and support staff
to work on the SARS response. |
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Deployed medical officers, epidemiologists, and other
specialists to assist with on-site investigations around the world. |
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Provided ongoing assistance to state and local health
departments in investigating possible cases of SARS in the United States. |
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Conducted extensive laboratory testing of clinical
specimens from SARS patients to identify the cause of the disease. |
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Initiated a system for distributing health alert notices to
travelers who may have been exposed to cases of SARS. |
For more
information, visit CDC's SARS Web
site, or call the CDC public response hotline at (888) 246-2675 (English),
(888) 246-2857 (Español), or (866) 874-2646 (TTY)
CDC
protects people's health and safety by preventing and controlling diseases and
injuries; enhances health decisions by providing credible information on
critical health issues; and promotes healthy living through strong
partnerships with local, national, and international organizations.
FACT
SHEET
Fact Sheet
for Close Contacts of SARS Patients (SARS)
April 2, 2003, 4:00 PM EST
What you
should do to protect yourself
CDC has issued interim guidelines for patients with suspected SARS in the
healthcare setting and in households. These guidelines may change as we learn
more about SARS. If you get sick with the symptoms described above and have been
in close contact with someone who might have SARS, see your health care provider
and follow the guidelines below.
GUIDELINES
If you
think you (or someone in your family) might have SARS, you should:
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Consult a health
care provider as soon as possible. |
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Cover your mouth
and nose with tissue when coughing or sneezing. If you have a surgical mask,
wear it during close contact with other people. A mask can reduce the number
of droplets coughed into the air. |
If you
have SARS and are being cared for at home, you should:
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Follow the
instructions given by your health care provider. |
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Limit your
activities outside the home during this 10-day period. For example, do not go
to work, school, or public areas. |
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Wash your hands
often and well, especially after you have blown your nose. |
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Cover your mouth
and nose with tissue when you sneeze or cough. |
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If possible, wear
a surgical mask when around other people in your home. If you can't wear a
mask, the members of your household should wear one when they are around you.
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Don't share
silverware, towels, or bedding with anyone in your home until these items have
been washed with soap and hot water. |
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Clean surfaces
(counter or tabletops, door knobs, bathroom fixtures, etc.) that have been
contaminated by body fluids (sweat, saliva, mucous, or even vomit or urine)
from the SARS patient with a household disinfectant used according to the
manufacturer's instructions. Wear disposable gloves during all cleaning
activities. Throw these out when you are done. Do not reuse them. |
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Follow these
instructions for 10 days after your fever and respiratory symptoms have gone
away. |
If you
are caring for someone at home who has SARS, you should:
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Be sure that the
person with SARS has seen a health care provider and is following instructions
for medication and care. |
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Be sure that all
members of your household are washing their hands frequently with soap and hot
water or using alcohol-based hand wash. |
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Wear disposable
gloves if you have direct contact with body fluids of a SARS patient. However,
the wearing of gloves is not a substitute for good hand hygiene. After contact
with body fluids of a SARS patient, remove the gloves, throw them out, and
wash your hands. Do not wash or reuse the gloves. |
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Encourage the
person with SARS to cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or
sneezing. If possible, the person with SARS should wear a surgical mask during
close contact with other people in the home. If the person with SARS cannot
wear a surgical mask, other members of the household should wear one when in
the room with that person. |
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Do not use
silverware, towels, bedding, clothing, or other items that have been used by
the person with SARS until these items have been washed with soap and hot
water. |
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Clean surfaces
(counter or tabletops, door knobs, bathroom fixtures, etc.) that have been
contaminated by body fluids (sweat, saliva, mucous, or even vomit or urine)
with a household disinfectant used according to the manufacturer's
instructions. Wear disposable gloves during all cleaning activities. Throw
these out when done. Do not reuse them. |
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Follow these
instructions for 10 days after the sick person's fever and respiratory
symptoms have gone away. |
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If you develop a
fever or respiratory symptoms, contact your health care provider immediately
and tell him or her that you have had close contact with a SARS patient.
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