|
Passaic
County Department of Health
TEL:
(973) 881-4396
FAX:
(973) 225-0222
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 18, 2003
(973)
225-3638
PATERSON- In a
continuing effort to prepare for and address concerns about Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in the community, health officials from the
Passaic County Department of Health (PCDH) have been working
collaboratively with local health departments and hospitals to share
information about SARS. There have been 5 suspect cases and 1 probable
case* of SARS to date in New Jersey (see definitions of “suspect and
probable cases” in Case Definition of SARS below).
The exact source of the SARS illness is
still being investigated. There is currently a supportive treatment
for SARS, however, washing hands frequently and covering the mouth while
coughing or sneezing are simple effective measures to prevent the spread
of bodily fluids that may carry the SARS illness.
Anyone who recently traveled to affected
areas or who has had close contact with someone who recently traveled to
affected areas, and develops symptoms, should see a doctor immediately
(see Case Definition of SARS below for affected areas and symptoms).
The CDC gives examples of close contact including kissing or embracing,
sharing eating or drinking utensils, close conversation (<3 feet),
physical examination, and any other direct physical contact between
persons. Close contact does not include activities such as walking by a
person or sitting across a waiting room or office for a brief period of
time.
Case
Definition of SARS
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) defines a suspect case of SARS as anyone
who either recently traveled to an affected region – People’s Republic
of China, including Hong Kong;
Hanoi, Vietnam; Singapore; Taiwan
and Toronto, Canada – or had contact with a known SARS patient and
experiences one of the following symptoms within 10 days
(including transit in an airport)
of return or last contact:
-
Fever greater
than 100.4°F;
-
One or more
respiratory symptoms including cough, shortness of breath, difficulty
breathing or hypoxia (low oxygen level).
The CDC defines a probable case
of SARS as someone who meets the suspect case definition and has
evidence of either pneumonia or severe respiratory distress syndrome
(severe inflammation of the lungs).
CDC SARS
information can also be found on the Passaic County Department of Health
Website at:
http://www.pcdh.org/Departments/Epidemiology/SARS.htm.
For further information about SARS the
public can visit the following sites:
§
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s site
at www.cdc.gov
§
NJDHSS web site at
www.nj.state.nj.us/health
§
World Health Organization site at
www.who.int/en
*Data reported to the World Health
Organization on June 10, 2003.
###
|
