Contact:
Lori Kawleski
Portage County Health and Human Services
715-345-5350
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PORTAGE COUNTY CARE PROVIDERS PREPARED FOR SARS
Portage County public health officials, medical providers and emergency services
staff met this morning to coordinate efforts for the management of Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Although no one in Portage County has been
diagnosed with SARS, providers want to be prepared for any cases. “We have
instituted a triage system that should detect and contain any suspected cases”
said Faye Tetzloff, Portage County Health Officer.
SARS is a respiratory disease with symptoms ranging from mild illness to severe
pneumonia. Signs and symptoms include fever (over 100.4 ° Fahrenheit) with a
non-productive cough or shortness of breath, and may include a headache,
body-aches, chills and a general feeling of discomfort. These signs and
symptoms generally appear from two to ten days after exposure. Individuals who
have been in close contact with a person suspected of having SARS should also
be alert for any respiratory symptoms. Close contact is defined as having care
for, lived with, or having direct contact with respiratory secretions and/or body
fluids of a person known to be a suspected SARS case.
The disease apparently originated in China and has spread to other countries,
primarily in Southeast Asia, in a matter of months. The severe nature of some of
the cases and its rapid spread in some other countries has caused concern, but
public health officials are working diligently to detect suspected cases of the
disease and to control its spread.
"Because the SARS outbreak has been concentrated in, but not limited to Asia,
public health authorities have been primarily involved with monitoring individuals
who have recently returned from travel to Hong Kong, mainland China,
Singapore, or Hanoi, Vietnam, and have developed respiratory illness within 10
days of their return," said Dr. Jeffery Davis, MD, Chief Medical Officer for the
state of Wisconsin. "However, we are mindful of the events in Toronto, Canada
where the spread of SARS has occurred following its introduction there," added
Dr. Davis.
“It is important for people to realize that in most instances those at risk of
contracting SARS as the result of close contact with a suspect case will be
notified by public health authorities of the active investigation.” Tetzloff says.
“This means that contacts would be told what symptoms to be aware of and how
and when to seek medical attention.”
Public health authorities advise that recent travelers to Hong Kong, mainland
China, Singapore, or Hanoi, Vietnam who have developed symptoms consistent
with SARS after returning to the U.S. should contact their physician by telephone
to arrange for evaluation. If someone has had close contact with another person
returning from Hong Kong, mainland China, Singapore, or Hanoi, Vietnam with
an illness consistent with SARS symptoms, they should also monitor their health
status, and contact their physician by telephone to arrange for an evaluation.
The CDC has also issued a travel advisory. They advise that people planning
elective or nonessential travel to mainland China and Hong Kong; Singapore;
and Hanoi, Vietnam may wish to postpone their trips until further notice. Because
the epidemiology of SARS in Canada is significantly different with regards to
community transmission, the CDC is not issuing a specific travel advisory for
Canada at this time.
For more information on SARS, visit:
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC)
The World Health Organization
(WHO)
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/
http://www.who.int/csr/sars/en/