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Home > SARS
SARS Information and UpdatesNote: Following is a compilation of postings related to the international SARS outbreak in 2003. These postings are maintained for those interested in the local response to this public health event. SARS Update 1(April 25, 2003) – Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a respiratory illness that has been recently reported in Asia, North America, and Europe. As of April 25th the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that there have been 4,649 cumulative cases of SARS and 274 deaths from the disease world wide from November 1, 2002 to April 25, 2003. There have been no deaths in the United States. In New York State as of April 23rd, there have been 28 probable and suspect cases. There are no reported cases of SARS in Tompkins County. The Tompkins County Health Department (TCHD) has been working with the state health department and local health care providers since the WHO alerted the world to the outbreak in Asia in March. As with other communicable diseases, TCHD maintains surveillance of any outbreaks of SARS through continual contact with the emergency department at Cayuga Medical Center and area physicians. The Department provides current updates from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the New York State Department of Health to area health care providers. SARS symptoms begin with a fever greater than 100.4? F. Other symptoms may include headache, an overall feeling of discomfort and body aches. Some people also experience mild respiratory symptoms at this time. After 2 to 7 days (sometimes 10 days) people with SARS may develop a dry cough and trouble breathing. In the United States, cases of SARS continue to be reported primarily among people who have traveled to affected areas such as mainland China, Hong Kong, Hanoi, Vietnam, Singapore and Toronto. SARS is spread primarily by close person-to-person contact. Most
cases of SARS have involved people who cared for or live with
someone with SARS. Touching the skin of other people or objects
that are contaminated with infectious droplets and then touching
your eyes, nose or mouth can also spread the disease. If anyone has these symptoms and traveled to the affected areas, they are urged to seek medical attention immediately. They should call their health care provider, describe their symptoms and report their recent travel to those areas. SARS is an evolving disease and TCHD is monitoring recommendations and advisories. At the present time, the CDC is recommending that any non-essential travel to Hanoi, Viet Nam, Singapore, Hong Kong, and mainland China be postponed. CDC also has issued a travel alert for Toronto, urging travelers to avoid health care facilities where SARS patients are being cared for. As with many infectious diseases, the first line of defense is careful hand hygiene. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water; if your hands are not visibly soiled, you may use an alcohol based hand rub. For more information check CDC’s site: www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars and the World Health Organization: www.who.int/csr/sars/en. For information regarding SARS and travel see www.cdc.gov/travel/other/sars. For Area Healthcare Providers(May 8, 2003) – With college graduations approaching in the next few weeks and family members traveling to the Ithaca area from all over the world, a number of questions have been posed about preventing SARS in our community. As you know, the CDC has not issued travel restrictions to the U.S. However, travel advisories remain in effect for travel to SARS endemic areas (Taiwan, Hong Kong, mainland China, and Singapore). CDC’s quarantine inspectors or their designees are distributing health alert cards to airline passengers returning either directly or indirectly to the United States from mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam or Toronto. The cards inform travelers about SARS and its symptoms, ask them to monitor their health for 10 days and to see a doctor if they develop a fever or cough or have difficulty breathing. Please report to the Health Department at 274-6604 any
cases of individuals traveling here from a SARS-affected area
who develop fever or cough or have difficulty breathing. These individuals should be isolated for 72 hours after onset
of symptoms to monitor for disease progression. If after 72 hours
their symptoms improve, they no longer need to be isolated. However,
if the fever or cough persists, they will need to be isolated
for an additional 72 hours. For persons who meet or progress to
meet the case definition for suspected SARS, isolation should
continue until 10 days after the resolution of fever, provided
respiratory symptoms are absent or improving. For you and your patients’ information, SARS information and resource links have been added to the Health Department’s webpage at: http://www.tompkins-co.org/health/. SARS & Visitors(May 9, 2003) – Locally, we follow the current CDC guidelines regarding travel alerts/advisories. We are recommending that college graduations occur as scheduled. We are encouraging college campuses to educate graduating students and their visiting families on the symptoms of SARS, what to do if they develop symptoms while here, proper hand hygiene, avoiding sharing eating utensils, and to cover their mouths and noses with a tissue before sneezing or coughing. For individuals attending Cornell GraduationIf you have traveled here from a SARS-affected area to attend Cornell graduation, please call Gannett Health Center at 255-5155 when you arrive in Ithaca. Gannett staff members will provide health screening and advice regarding health monitoring during the 10-day incubation period. If you develop fever or cough or have difficulty breathing within
10 days of your departure from a SARS-affected area, please call
Gannett Health Center at 255-5155 to talk with a health care provider.
Whenever Gannett is closed, an on-call provider is available at
this number for phone consultation. SARS & College GraduationsMay 9, 2003 – With college graduations approaching in the next few weeks and family members traveling to the Ithaca area from all over the world, a number of questions have been posed about preventing SARS in our community. As you know, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has not issued travel restrictions to the U.S. However, travel advisories remain in effect for travel to SARS endemic areas (Taiwan, Hong Kong, mainland China, and Singapore). CDC’s quarantine inspectors or their designees are distributing health alert cards to airline passengers returning either directly or indirectly to the United States from mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam or Toronto. The cards inform travelers about SARS and its symptoms, ask them to monitor their health for 10 days and to see a doctor if they develop a fever or cough or have difficulty breathing. Locally, we follow the current CDC guidelines regarding travel alerts/advisories. We are recommending that college graduations occur as scheduled. We are encouraging college campuses to educate graduating students and their visiting families on the symptoms of SARS, what to do if they develop symptoms while here, proper hand hygiene, avoiding sharing eating utensils, and to cover their mouths and noses with a tissue before sneezing or coughing. Information can also be obtained by going to the Centers for Disease Control website. For individuals attending Cornell GraduationIf you have traveled here from a SARS-affected area to attend Cornell graduation, please call Gannett Health Center at 255-5155 when you arrive in Ithaca. Gannett staff members will provide health screening and advice regarding health monitoring during the 10-day incubation period. If you develop fever or cough or have difficulty breathing within
10 days of your departure from a SARS-affected area, please call
Gannett Health Center at 255-5155 to talk with a health care provider.
Whenever Gannett is closed, an on-call provider is available at
this number for phone consultation. SARS ResourcesMay 16, 2003 – Because SARS is an evolving illness, new information is available on an almost daily basis. The following links will give direct access to the most up-to-date information.
SARS Update 2May 22, 2003 – As of May 14, 2003, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not recommend canceling or postponing gatherings including those in academic settings, that will include persons traveling to the United States from areas with SARS. At the present time, these areas include mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan. The CDC and World Health Organization (WHO) indicate that there is no medical reason to isolate travelers from affected areas so long as they remain healthy. National, state and local partners are working closely to address the SARS outbreak: Health alert notices are distributed to travelers arriving in the United States from areas with SARS to notify them of the importance of monitoring their health closely for a period of 10 days following their departure. And if they develop fever or respiratory symptoms of coughing, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, they should seek medical attention immediately. Visitors to Cornell University in need of medical attention should call Gannett Health Center at 255-5155. Visitors to Tompkins County who are not affiliated with Cornell University should call Cayuga Medical Center’s Emergency Department at 274-4411 or the Convenient Care Center at 274-4150. The Tompkins County Health Department is in continual contact with Gannett Health Center, the Cayuga Medical Center, Hammond Health Center at Ithaca College and area health care providers to maintain surveillance of any outbreak of SARS. There have been no reported cases of SARS in Ithaca or Tompkins County. SARS is extremely rare in the United States. The primary way that SARS appears to spread is by close person to person contact. Transmission might occur between people living in the same household or by someone providing care to a SARS patient. Examples include kissing, embracing, sharing eating or drinking utensils, close conversation (within 3 feet) or physical examination. It does not include activities such as walking by someone or sitting across a room for a short period of time. SARS is a highly infectious disease and the Tompkins County Health Department is taking it very seriously. However, it is important to keep the threat of SARS in perspective. There have been no cases in Tompkins County or New York State. Measures taken by the CDC, WHO, and local and state health agencies to prevent an outbreak have been successful to date. SARS symptoms are similar to those of colds and flu, common illnesses that we’re all familiar with. Therefore, the common sense approach to preventing illness still holds true: wash your hands frequently with soap and water; cover sneezes and coughs; don’t share eating and drinking utensils. SARS is an evolving illness and new information is available on a daily basis. The following links will provide up-to-date information on SARS and travel advisories or alerts: www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars And call the Tompkins County Health Department at 274-6604 or 274-6710.
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| Tompkins
County Health Department – 55 Brown Road – Ithaca, New York 14850
Frank Kruppa, Public Health Director |
Page updated: July 16, 2012
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