SARS OUTBREAK RESPONSE FLOWCHART

Please note that this information sheet is subject to change as more is learnt about this condition. Issued by the National Department of Health, 2 April 2003

Scenaria 1: Suspected SARS case during flight to SA

1.1 During flight
  1. Patient presents with suspected SARS symptoms during flight
  2. Air hostess notifies the pilot
  3. Pilot informs operations at destination port
  4. Suspected SARS patient is moved to an isolated area on the plane, a facemask should be placed over mouth.
  5. Operations informs port health officers of the ill passenger
  6. Port Health officers notifies:
    port doctor(name……………….tel………………………….)
    CDC officer (name………………tel…………………………)

1.2 Once the plane has landed

  1. Port Health officers board plane
  2. Plane door is closed.
  3. Following information obtained: no of cases, signs and symptoms and passenger list.
  4. Passengers briefed that there is an ill person on board, calm them and inform them that they will be provided with the necessary contact health information. In the event of anyone experiencing fever of over 38 °C plus a cough and shortness of breath, they are requested to report to their nearest health facility and present the health alert card to the doctor.
  5. Allow all passengers except the contacts to depart.
  6. Take the contacts to a room for briefing.
  7. Hand out SARS information sheet and Health Alert Cards, request contact address for the next 14 days. Inform them of contact tracing procedure.
  8. Suspected SARS patient taken to medical room at port and examined by the doctor.
  9. Contact NICD to confirm symptoms conform to SARS case definition.
  10. Doctor contacts referral hospital to arrange admission and transfer of patient
  11. National Department of Health, CDC informed of suspected case.
  12. Port Health hand over passenger list and close contact details.

1.3 At health facility

Medical personnel must contact NICD (Contact numbers Dr L Blumberg 082 807 6770, Prof BD Schoub 082 908 8049 and Dr A Puren 082 908 8048) BEFORE sending specimens.

Specimens required

Patients need to be isolated and barrier nursed with mask (ideally, HEPA mask - 8835 IF3, TB mask ) gown and glove precautions.

NICD should provide feedback on all laboratory results conducted on suspected SARS cases

1.4 Follow up and contact tracing

  1. CDC officer conducts contact tracing of passengers for 14 days using attached form.
  2. Any persons reporting SARS signs and symptoms should be referred to their nearest health facility.
  3. The CDC officer should make arrangements for the patient to have further assessment. It is important the patient receives immediate attention, has minimum contact with routine patients, the doctor must contact NICD to obtain information on samples and confirm SARS case definition.
  4. CDC officer updates National CDC daily.
  5. CDC should obtain all (positive or negative) results from NICD and communicate them to CDC National.

1.5 Press releases

In the event of a suspected or confirmed positive SARS case being reported, all statements to the press should be issued by the National Department of Health, CDC in conjunction with NICD.

1.6 Updates

Weekly updates will be issued by CDC National in conjunction with NICD to all PHO and CDC on Fridays unless there is breaking news.

1.7 Communication

All port health officers are requested to keep in contact with their CDC officer regularly.