SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) is a respiratory illness that has recently been reported in Asia, North America, and Europe.
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is an epidemic that has been characterised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a “global threat to health” and as the “first severe and easily transmissible new disease to emerge in the 21st century”. As the name suggests, it is an affliction of the respiratory system. Initially suspected to be a form of influenza (or flu), it is now more commonly known as “atypical pneumonia”.
Where Did The Disease Emanate?
Again, there can be no definitive answer to this question, but as things stand, it is believed that the first case of SARS may have been from the Guangdong province of southern China. It is also now believed that the first case of SARS in this Chinese province may have occurred as early as November last year, though the disease came to light only after a case was reported in Vietnam in late February? Some reports suggest that a single individual in Guangdong might be “the first SARS case”, but it is possible that more than one person was afflicted by the virus from a non-human source.
How many countries are affected and which are worst affected?
As of April 11, according to the WHO daily update, a total of 21 countries had reported 2,890 cases of SARS. However, only in four of these countries was there evidence of local transmission of the disease. In other words, the cases reported from the other 17 countries involved patients who had contracted the disease while abroad — typically on visits to southern China or Hong Kong. In fact, a very large number of cases have involved people who stayed at a single hotel in Hong Kong. Mainland China and Hong Kong account for the overwhelming bulk — 2,368 out of 2,890 — of SARS cases reported so far. The US, Canada, Singapore, Taiwan and Vietnam are the only other parts of the word with the number of reported cases getting even into double digits.
Is SARS a fatal disease?
Actually, contrary to the popular perception, only a very small percentage of infected people have died. The WHO estimate is that only about 4% of the cases result in death. In fact, only about 10% of the reported cases even call for intensive therapy and only half of those 10% require mechanical ventilation. In China, for instance, only 58 of the 1,309 reported patients have died. Similarly, in Hon Kong only 32 out of 1,059 patients have died. The “killer pneumonia” tag may, therefore, be perhaps a little exaggerated.
Symptoms And Signs Of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
The symptoms — high fever, dry cough, headaches etc — are quite similar to flu, but unlike in a flu, chest X-Rays reveal patterns similar to pneumonia.The illness usually begins with a fever (measured temperature greater than 100.4°F [>38.0°C]). The fever is sometimes associated with chills or other symptoms, including headache, general feeling of discomfort, and body aches. Some people also experience mild respiratory symptoms at the outset.
After 2 to 7 days, SARS patients may develop a dry, nonproductive cough that might be accompanied by or progress to the point where insufficient oxygen is getting to the blood. In 10% to 20% of cases, patients will require mechanical ventilation.
Medical Treatment Recommended For Patients With SARS
It is recommended that patients with SARS receive the same treatment that would be used for any patient with serious community-acquired atypical pneumonia of unknown cause. Several treatment regimens have been used for patients with SARS, but there is insufficient information at this time to determine if they have had a beneficial effect.
Reported therapeutic regimens have included antibiotics to presumptively treat known bacterial agents of atypical pneumonia. Therapy also has included antiviral agents such as oseltamivir or ribavirin. Steroids also have been administered orally or intravenously to patients in combination with ribavirin and other antimicrobials.
How Is SARS Spread?
The principal way SARS appears to be spread is through droplet transmission; namely, when someone sick with SARS coughs or sneezes droplets into the air and someone else breathes them in. It is possible that SARS can be transmitted more broadly through the air or from objects that have become contaminated.
Who Is Most At Risk Of Contracting SARS?
Cases of SARS continue to be reported primarily 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 caring for a SARS patient. In the United States, there is no indication of community transmission at this time.
The Cause Of SARS
Scientists have detected a previously unrecognized coronavirus in patients with SARS. While the new coronavirus is still the leading hypothesis for the cause of SARS, other viruses are still under investigation as potential causes.
Test for SARS
No "test" is available yet for SARS; however, Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other laboratories, has developed 2 research tests that appear to be very promising in detecting antibodies to the new coronavirus. CDC is working to refine and share this testing capability as soon as possible with laboratories across the United States and internationally.
What should I do if I think I have SARS?
If you are ill with a fever of over 100.4°F [>38.0°C] that is accompanied by a cough or difficulty breathing or that progresses to a cough and/or difficulty breathing, you should consult a health care provider. To help your health care provider make a diagnosis, tell him or her about any recent travel to regions where cases of SARS have been reported and whether you were in contact with someone who had these symptoms.
How does one prevent transmission of SARS in households?
CDC has developed interim infection control recommendations available at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/ic-closecontacts.html for patients with suspected SARS in the household. The basic precautions outlined in this document include the following:
" Infection control precautions should be continued for SARS patients for 10 days after respiratory symptoms and fever are gone. SARS patients should limit interactions outside the home and should not go to work, school, out-of-home day care, or other public areas during the 10-day period.
" During this 10-day period, all members of the household with a SARS patient should carefully follow recommendations for hand hygiene, such as frequent hand washing or the use of alcohol-based hand rubs.
" Each patient with SARS should cover his or her mouth and nose with a tissue before sneezing or coughing. If possible, a person recovering from SARS should wear a surgical mask during close contact with uninfected persons. If the patient is unable to wear a surgical mask, other people in the home should wear one when in close contact with the patient.
" Disposable gloves should be considered for any contact with body fluids from a SARS patient. However, immediately after activities involving contact with body fluids, gloves should be removed and discarded, and hands should be washed. Gloves should not be washed or reused, and are not intended to replace proper hand hygiene.
" SARS patients should avoid sharing eating utensils, towels, and bedding with other members of the household, although these items can be used by others after routine cleaning, such as washing or laundering with soap and hot water.
" Common household cleaners are sufficient for disinfecting toilets, sinks, and other surfaces touched by patients with SARS, but the cleaners must be used frequently.
" Other members of the household need not restrict their outside activities unless they develop symptoms of SARS, such as a fever or respiratory illness.
SARS: India back on list
MAY 8:. India is back on the WHO list of countries reporting ``probable cases'' of SARS after being declared SARS-free by the world body on May 1. The WHO's website on SARS mentions one SARS-probable case in India. The WHO had modified the definition of probable cases on May 1.
All the cases reported in the country earlier, despite testing positive for the new corona virus in samples, did not fall into the WHO's previous case definition of ``SARS-probable''. ``We have taken into account one case in Kolkata, who is a SARS-probable according to the WHO's revised definition,'' N. Kumara Rai, WHO's representative here, said.