What is SARS?
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a respiratory illness that has recently been reported in Asia, North America, and Europe. As of April 20,2003 about 198 suspect cases of SARS and 38 probable cases of SARS had been reported in the United States. SARS is a viral illness that is most often spread from person to person by close physical contact and through respiratory secretions. Most cases involve people who have cared for others who have SARS for example family members of a SARS patient, health care workers and public health workers.
How is SARS spread from person to person?
Again, SARS is spread by direct contact with infected respiratory secreations. For instance, a SARS patient coughs or sneezes. Those droplets are infected with SARS. If another person comes in contact with those secreations then touches their own eyes, nose, mouth or other mucous membranes, they can become infected. Other possible ways of transmitting the virus is by infected droplets traveling through the air from one person to another.
What are the signs and 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.
Who is at risk? Am I more at risk since I have HIV?
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. There is also no indication that people who are immunocompromised; such as people living with HIV; are any more at risk than the general population. Travel to affected areas such as China, Hong Kong, Singapore or Toronto may place you at an additional risk.
