SARS was first detected in February in Hanoi, Vietnam by Italian doctor Carlo Urbani; however it is believed that SARS may have begun in 2002 in the southern province of Guangdong in China.
Since that time at least 73 people throughout Asia and Canada, including Dr.Urbani, have died from this deadly, new pneumonia-like virus. Deaths have been reported in Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, and Canada. Approximately 2,200 people have been infected by SARS in at least thirteen countries including the United States and Canada.
Just yesterday, American Airlines Flight 128 from Hong Kong was held on the ground at San Jose International Airport for almost two hours because five passengers exhibited symptoms consistent with SARS. None of the five were found, by doctors, to have SARS.
What are the symptoms of SARS?
The first sign of Severe Acute Respirator Syndrome is usually a sudden fever of over 100.4°F or 38.0°C (may include chills). Other symptoms that may occur include headache, general discomfort, and body aches.
Two to seven days after the onset of symptoms SARS patients might develop a dry, nonproductive cough. The cough may be accompanied by or progress to the point that mechanical ventilation is required; this occurs in ten to twenty percent of cases.
What is the incubation period for people who are exposed to SARS?
The incubation period for SARS is generally 2 to 7 days; however in a few rare cases, it has been as long as 10 days.
How is SARS spread?
SARS appears to be transmitted through droplet transmission such as when an infected person coughs or sneezes the droplets and another person breaths them in. There is a possibility that SARS is more broadly transmitted through the air or on contaminated objects. It is unclear how long a person infected with SARS is contagious to others. Those most at risk of developing SARS are people who have direct contact with an infected person such as family members and health care workers. There has been no indication of community transmission in the United Sates at this time.
How is SARS treated?
The Center for Disease Control in Atlanta recommends that SARS patients receive the same treatment used for any patient with serious community-acquired atypical pneumonia of unknown cause. Although several treatments have been used for SARS patients there is insufficient information at this time to determine whether any have been beneficial. Both antibiotics and antiviral medications such as oseltamivir or ribavirin, as well as steroids either orally or intravenously in combination with ribavirin and other antimicrobials have been used to treat SARS patients.
