SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME (SARS)
Frequently Asked Questions

Source American Red Cross

Q1. Where did Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) come from?

A1. SARS is an infectious disease of the respiratory system characterized by an atypical inflammation of the lungs (pneumonia). While a definitive identification has not been made, CDC announced that its scientists have detected a previously unrecognized coronavirus in patients with SARS. These findings are preliminary and do not provide conclusive evidence that coronavirus is the cause of SARS.

Q2. What is atypical pneumonia?

A2. Pneumonia is an infection of one or both lungs which is usually caused by a bacteria, virus or fungus. Atypical pneumonias appear different from ‘classic´ presentations of this infection and may be more viral in nature. Pneumonia is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.

Q3. What is coronavirus?

A3. Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that are a common cause of mild to moderate upper-respiratory illness in humans. Coronaviruses can survive in the environment for as long as three hours. They are associated with respiratory, gastrointestinal, liver and neurologic disease in animals. These viruses have a halo or crown-like (corona) appearance when viewed under a microscope.

Q4. How is SARS transmitted?

A4. The disease appears to be spread from person to person through droplet transmission when in close contact with a person with SARS. For example, when someone sick with SARS coughs or sneezes, they disperse droplets into the air and someone else breathes them in.

It is possible that SARS can be transmitted more broadly through the air or from objects that have become contaminated. Coronaviruses can survive in the environment for as long as three hours. Close contact in this case is defined as having cared for, having lived with or having had direct contact with respiratory secretions and body fluids of a person with SARS.

Q5. What are the symptoms of SARS?

A5. Main symptoms and signs include high fever (>100.4ºF/38ºC), dry cough, muscle aches, shortness of breath or breathing difficulties. SARS may be associated with other symptoms, including headache, muscular stiffness, loss of appetite or tiredness (malaise).

Q6. What is the incubation period (i.e., time from infection to onset of disease symptoms) for SARS?

A6. The incubation period is usually 2 to 7 days, with 3-5 days being most common.

Q7. What has CDC recommended to prevent transmission of SARS in households?

A7. CDC has developed interim infection control recommendations for patients with suspected SARS in the household. The basic precautions include the following:

• Infection control precautions should be continued for SARS patients for 10 days after respiratory symptoms and fever are gone. SARS patients should limit interactions outside the home and should not go to work, school, out-of-home day care or other public areas during the 10-day period.
• 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 hand rubs.
• 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 persons. If the patient is unable to wear a surgical mask, other people in the home should wear one when in close contact with the patient.
• 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 washed or reused and are not intended to replace proper hand hygiene.
• 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. Coronaviruses can survive in the environment for as long as three hours.
• Common household cleaners are sufficient for disinfecting toilets, sinks and other surfaces touched by patients with SARS, but the cleaners must be used frequently.
• Other members of the household need not restrict their outside activities unless they develop symptoms of SARS, such as a fever or respiratory illness.

Q8. Is there a test for SARS?

A8. No "test" is available yet for SARS. And while coronavirus has not been definitively proven to be the cause of SARS, CDC, in collaboration with WHO and other laboratories, has developed two research tests that appear to be very promising in detecting antibodies to the new coronavirus.

Q9. What should I do if I think I have symptoms of SARS?

A9. If you are ill with a fever of over 100.4 ºF (>38.0ºC) that is accompanied by a cough or difficulty breathing, or that progresses to a cough and/or difficulty breathing, you should consult a health care provider. To help your health care provider make a diagnosis, tell them about any recent travel to regions where cases of SARS have been reported and whether you were in contact with someone who had these symptoms.

Q10. What should I do if I have recently traveled to a country where cases of SARS have been reported?

A10. You should monitor your own health for 7 to 10 days following your return. If you become ill with a fever of over 100.4 ºF (>38.0ºC) that is accompanied by a cough or difficulty breathing, or that progresses to a cough and/or difficulty breathing, you should consult a health care provider. To help your health care provider make a diagnosis, tell them about any recent travel to regions where cases of SARS have been reported and whether you were in contact with someone who had these symptoms.

Q11. What is the treatment for SARS?

A11. While some medicines have been tried, because the cause of the disease has not been definitively identified, no drug can, at this time, be recommended for prevention or treatment. Antibiotics do not appear to be effective. Symptoms should be treated by adequately protected health professionals.

Q12. Are there any travel restrictions related to SARS?

A12. A CDC travel advisory recommends individuals who are planning nonessential or elective travel to mainland China, Hong Kong, Hanoi, Vietnam, or Singapore consider postponing their trip until further notice. WHO recommends screening of air passengers departing from a small number of affected areas on flights to another country.

Q13. Is there any reason to think SARS is or is not related to bio-terrorism?

A13. Information currently available about SARS indicates that people who appear to be most at risk are either health care workers taking care of sick people or family members or household contacts of those who are infected with SARS. That pattern of transmission is what would typically be expected in a contagious respiratory or flu-like illness. There is no indication that SARS is linked to bio-terrorism.

This information has been compiled from materials provided by several federal agencies. For additional information or resource documentation, please reference the Web sites that follow.

The World Health Organization
http://www.who.int/csr/sars/en/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/index.htm