- We are changing the name of this threat to Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome - Worldwide to reflect the appearance of cases now
outside of East Asia, and in keeping with the name of they syndrome as
defined by WHO -- "Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome" (SARS).
In addition, given the severity of this situation, we have chosen to post
this alert to ALL ProMED-mail subscribers, irrespective of specialty list
preferences to assist in a further, widespread dissemination of this alert
information. - Mod.MPP
-
-
- WHO Press release
-
- World Health Organization issues emergency travel advisory
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Spreads Worldwide
3-15-3
-
- GENEVA -- During the past week, WHO has received reports
of more than 150 new suspected cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
(SARS), an atypical pneumonia for which cause has not yet been determined.
Reports to date have been received from Canada, China, Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region of China, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand,
and Viet Nam. Early today, an ill passenger and companions who travelled
from New York, United States, and who landed in Frankfurt, Germany were
removed from their flight and taken to hospital isolation.
-
- Due to the spread of SARS to several countries in a short
period of time, the World Health Organization today has issued emergency
guidance for travellers and airlines.
-
- "This syndrome, SARS, is now a worldwide health
threat," said Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, Director General of the World
Health Organization. "The world needs to work together to find its
cause, cure the sick, and stop its spread."
-
- There is presently no recommendation for people to restrict
travel to any destination. However in response to enquiries from governments,
airlines, physicians and travellers, WHO is now offering guidance for travellers,
airline crew and airlines. The exact nature of the infection is still under
investigation and this guidance is based on the early information available
to WHO.
-
- TRAVELLERS INCLUDING AIRLINE CREW: All travellers should
be aware of main symptoms and signs of SARS which include:
-
- * high fever (greater than 38 C)
-
- AND
-
- * one or more respiratory symptoms including cough, shortness
of breath, difficulty breathing
-
- AND one or more of the following:
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- * close contact* with a person who has been diagnosed
with SARS
-
- * recent history of travel to areas reporting cases of
SARS.
-
- In the unlikely event of a traveller experiencing this
combination of symptoms they should seek medical attention and ensure that
information about their recent travel is passed on to the health care staff.
Any traveller who develops these symptoms is advised not to undertake further
travel until they have recovered.
-
- AIRLINES - Should a passenger or crew member who meets
the criteria above travel on a flight, the aircraft should alert the destination
airport. On arrival the sick passenger should be referred to airport health
authorities for assessment and management. The aircraft passengers and
crew should be informed of the person's status as a suspect case of SARS.
The passengers and crew should provide all contact details for the subsequent
14 days to the airport health authorities. There are currently no indications
to restrict the onward travel of healthy passengers, but all passengers
and crew should be advised to seek medical attention if they develop the
symptoms highlighted above. There is currently no indication to provide
passengers and crew with any medication or investigation unless they become
ill.
-
- In the absence of specific information regarding the
nature of the organism causing this illness, specific measures to be applied
to the aircraft cannot be recommended. As a general precaution the aircraft
may be disinfected in the manner described in the WHO Guide to Hygiene
and Sanitation in Aviation.
-
- *****
-
- As more information has become available, WHO-recommended
SARS case definitions have been revised as follows:
-
- Suspect Case
-
- A person presenting after 1 Feb 2003 with history of
:
-
- * high fever (greater than 38 C)
-
- AND
-
- * 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
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- Probable Case
-
- A suspect case with chest x-ray findings of pneumonia
or Respiratory Distress Syndrome
-
- OR
-
- 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.
-
- Comments
-
- In addition to fever and respiratory symptoms, SARS may
be associated with other symptoms including: headache, muscular stiffness,
loss of appetite, malaise, confusion, rash, and diarrhea.
-
- ****
-
- Until more is known about the cause of these outbreaks,
WHO recommends that patients with SARS be isolated with barrier nursing
techniques and treated as clinically indicated. At the same time, WHO recommends
that any suspect cases be reported to national health authorities.
-
- WHO is in close communication with all national authorities
and has also offered epidemiological, laboratory and clinical support.
WHO is working with national authorities to ensure appropriate investigation,
reporting and containment of these outbreaks.
-
- * Close contact means having cared for, having lived
with, or having had direct contact with respiratory secretions and body
fluids of a person with SARS.
-
- For more information contact:
-
- Dick Thompson - Communication Officer Communicable Disease
Prevention, Control and Eradication WHO, Geneva Tel: (+41 22) 791 26 84
thompsond@who.int
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