Severe Acute Respiratory Alert Information for the CDC

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RESPIRATORY ILLNESS - CDC Alert

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

-- Reporting SARS Symptoms
-- U.S. Executive Order
-- Initial CDC Health Alert

Editor's Note: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has setup a special Web site. For continual CDC updates, go to http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/index.htm

As part of the U.S. government's efforts to prevent an epidemic of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in the United States, the Bush administration has authorized immigration and customs agents at the nation's international airports to use force to detain arriving passengers who appear to have symptoms of the disease, senior administration officials said.

The Department of Homeland Security, which is responsible for immigration and customs inspections at airports and other border crossings, has provided masks and gloves to thousands of its airport inspectors as part of the agency's effort to stem transmission of SARS, which can be deadly.

Reporting SARS Symptoms

People with symptoms of SARS (fever greater than 100.4°F [>38.0°C] accompanied by a cough and/or difficulty breathing) should consult a health-care provider. To help the health-care provider make a diagnosis, tell them about any recent travel to places where SARS has been reported or whether there was contact with someone who had these symptoms

U.S. Executive Order

President Bush issued an executive order April 4 allowing the forced quarantine of people suspected of having the mysterious new illness that has infected at least 3,000 people from Asia to North America. Earlier in the day, researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) said they are beginning work toward a vaccine against the disease.

The executive order grants authority to NIH Secretary Tommy Thompson to decide when such a quarantine is needed. The executive order is not meant to escalate fears in the public’s mind about SARS, U.S. government officials said, but to grant authority to health officials to quarantine people if necessary.

Government researchers said they have begun working on a SARS vaccine and are already trying to interest the pharmaceutical industry in producing a vaccine based on the NIH work.

CDC Extends Travel Advisory

On April 2, CDC extended its travel advisory for SARS to include all of mainland China as well as Hanoi, Vietnam and Singapore. The previous CDC travel advisory was for only Hong Kong and Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China and Hanoi, Vietnam.

CDC advises that people planning elective or non-essential travel to mainland China and Hong Kong; Singapore; and Hanoi, Vietnam may wish to postpone their trips until further notice. CDC has been working closely with the World Health Organization (WHO) to investigate cases of SARS. At this time CDC is not advising against travel to or from Canada because there is not evidence of widespread community transmission.

CDC officials are meeting planes, cargo ships and cruise ships coming either directly or indirectly to the United States from China, Singapore and Vietnam and distributing health alert cards to disembarking passengers. CDC will distribute approximately 25,000 health alert notices daily to people returning from the affected regions at more than 20 ports of entry.

CDC Statement

Although more cases may be identified in the United States, people shouldn't worry if they haven't traveled recently to parts of Asia where the illness has appeared, CDC officials said. "We don't want people who haven't traveled to this region to be concerned about this problem, at least at this point in time," health officials said on April 9.

In response to reports of increasing numbers of cases of the atypical pneumonia, the CDC announced several ongoing steps to alert U.S. health authorities at local and state levels.

Travel Alert Cards

On Monday, March 17, the CDC began distributing cards at airports receiving flights returning directly from Southeast Asia.

The travel cards warn those returning from the area that they should monitor their health for at least seven days. They are also advised to contact their physicians if they become ill with a fever accompanied by a cough or difficulty in breathing.

The cards also offer guidance designed to assist physicians in making a diagnosis by advising travelers to tell their physicians about recent travel to the affected regions, and whether they have been in contact with individuals who displayed symptoms of SARS.

Health Alert Issued

CDC activated its emergency operations center on Friday, March 14, upon learning of several cases reported in Canada among travelers recently returned from Southeast Asia and their family members. At that time, the federal public health agency:

	Issued a health alert to hospitals and clinicians on Saturday, March 15.
	Briefed state health officials on Saturday, March 15.
	Is investigating illness among travelers who may have passed through the United States after having potential exposure to the virus.
	Is preparing guidance to assist public health departments, health care facilities and clinicians in monitoring and identifying potential cases.
	Deployed eight CDC scientists to assist the WHO in the global investigation.
	Is analyzing specimens to identify a cause and treatment for the illness.

The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a global alert about the outbreak on March 12, cautioning that the severe respiratory illness may spread to hospital staff. No link has been made between this illness and any known influenza, including the "bird flu" (A[H5N1]) outbreak reported in Hong Kong on February 19.