SARS or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome is a new disease under investigation by the Centers for Disease Control. This disease was first reported in Guangdong Province China, Hanoi (Vietnam), and Hong Kong. It has since spread to other countries and many states in the United States including Oregon.

What is SARS? It is a respiratory illness with pneumonia like symptoms plus fever and a cough. SARS is spread by close contact between people. This spread is through droplets into the air when the infected person coughs into the air. It is also possible to acquire the disease by touching objects that have been contaminated and putting your fingers into your mouth or food.

What are the symptoms or the required exposure?
*** Respiratory illness of unknown etiology with onset since February 1, 2003 plus:
*** Fever with temperature >100.5 degrees F.
*** One or more clinical finding of respiratory illness (e.g. cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, or x-ray confirmation by your doctor of pneumonia).
*** Possible headache, feeling of discomfort, body aches. After two to seven days persons may develop a dry cough and have trouble breathing.
*** Travel within 10 days of onset to an area documented or suspected community transmission of SARS.
*** Close contact within 10 days of onset of symptom with either a person with a respiratory illness who traveled to a SARS area or a person known to be a suspect SARS case.

The incubation period of SARS is two to seven days, but isolated reports have suggested an incubation period of 10 days. If you think you or someone in your family has SARS, you should consult your healthcare provider as soon as possible. Cover your mouth and nose with tissue when coughing or sneezing. If you have a surgical mask you should wear it.

If you have SARS and are at home for care, you should: follow instructions from your healthcare provider, limit your activities outside, wash your hands often, cover your mouth and nose. If possible, wear a surgical mask. Don't share silverware, towels or bedding with anyone. Clean surfaces that have been contaminated. Wear disposable gloves during these cleaning periods. Follow these instructions for 10 days after your fever and respiratory symptoms have gone away.

Medical treatment is the same for anyone with serious community-acquired atypical pneumonia of unknown cause (SARS). At this time, there is not sufficient information for an effective medication treatment.

There is no test for SARS; however, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) have developed tests they say appear to be promising in detecting antibodies to the new corona virus that causes SARS.

The number of cases at this time as of April nine is 154 in the U.S. with one case in Oregon. There have been no deaths in the U.S. Canada has had 94 cases and 10 deaths. Worldwide the count is 2722 cases and 106 deaths.

What risk was there if I was on a plane with a suspected SARS patient? SARS has occurred among air travelers. CDC is requesting locating information regarding travelers on these flights. CDC will follow-up for 14 days with passengers to see if they develop any symptoms. Remember, it takes close contact with the infected SARS patient to contract this disease.

If you desire anymore information, you can go to either the CDC's www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars or WHO's www.who.int/csr/sars/en.