Diseases A-Z

SARS (Severe acute respiratory syndrome) fact sheet

• What are the signs and symptoms of SARS?
• How is SARS spread?
• Who is at risk for SARS?
• What should I do to protect myself against SARS?

What are the signs and symptoms of SARS?

In general, SARS begins with a fever greater than 100.4°F [>38.0°C]. Other symptoms may include headache, an overall feeling of discomfort, and body aches. Some people also experience mild respiratory symptoms. After 2 to 7 days, SARS patients may develop a dry cough and have trouble breathing.

How is SARS spread?

Public health experts think that SARS is spread by close contact between people. SARS is most likely spread when someone sick with the disease coughs droplets into the air and someone else breathes them in. After exposure illness may occur within 1 to 10 days but usually after 3 to 5 days. It is possible that SARS also can spread more broadly through the air or from touching objects that have become contaminated with respiratory secretions. Risk of spread to others may extend up to 10 days from cessation of fever and respiratory symptoms. To find out more about SARS, go to the CDC seb site ( www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/) and the WHO web site ( www.who.int/csr/sars/en/).

Who is at risk for SARS?

Cases of SARS continue to be reported mainly among people who have had direct close contact with an infected person, such as those sharing a household with a SARS patient and healthcare workers who did not use infection control procedures while caring for a SARS patient. In the United States, there is no indication of community spread at this time. CDC continues to monitor this situation very closely.

What should I do to protect myself against SARS?

CDC has issued interim guidelines for patients with suspected SARS in the workplace, healthcare settings, households and schools. Also see the CDC SARS home page. These guidelines may change as we learn more about SARS. If you get sick with the symptoms described above and have been in close contact with someone who might have SARS, or have traveled to or had close contact with someone who has traveled to a country known to have communicable transmission (China, Hong Kong, Vietnam), contact your healthcare provider by telephone before visiting the office and follow the guidelines below.

GUIDELINES

• Call your healthcare provider as soon as possible. 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.
• Cover your mouth and nose with tissue when coughing or sneezing.

• Follow the instructions given by your healthcare provider.
• Limit your activities outside the home during the illness and for a 10-day period following recovery. For example, do not go to work, school, or public areas.
• Wash your hands often and well, especially after you have blown your nose.
• Cover your mouth and nose with tissue when you sneeze or cough.
• If possible, wear a surgical mask when around other people in your home. If you can't wear a mask, the members of your household should wear one when they are around you.
• Don't share silverware, towels, or bedding with anyone in your home until these items have been washed with soap and hot water.
• Clean surfaces (counter or tabletops, door knobs, bathroom fixtures, etc.) that have been contaminated by body fluids (sweat, saliva, mucous, or even vomit or urine) from the SARS patient with a household disinfectant used according to the manufacturer's instructions. Wear disposable gloves during all cleaning activities. Throw these out when you are done. Do not reuse them.
• Follow these instructions for 10 days after your fever and respiratory symptoms have gone away.

• Be sure that the person with SARS has seen a healthcare provider and is following instructions for medication and care.
• Be sure that all members of your household are washing their hands frequently with soap and hot water or using alcohol-based hand wash.
• Wear disposable gloves if you have direct contact with body fluids of a SARS patient. However, the wearing of gloves is not a substitute for good hand hygiene. After contact with body fluids of a SARS patient, remove the gloves, throw them out, and wash your hands. Do not wash or reuse the gloves.
• Encourage the person with SARS to cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. If possible, the person with SARS should wear a surgical mask during close contact with other people in the home. If the person with SARS cannot wear a surgical mask, other members of the household should wear one when in the room with that person.
• Do not use silverware, towels, bedding, clothing, or other items that have been used by the person with SARS until these items have been washed with soap and hot water.
• Clean surfaces (counter or tabletops, door knobs, bathroom fixtures, etc.) that have been contaminated by body fluids (sweat, saliva, mucous, or even vomit or urine) with an EPA-registered low- or intermediate-level chemical household germicide used according to the manufacturer's instructions. Wear disposable gloves during all cleaning activities. Throw these out when done. Do not reuse them.
• Follow these instructions for 10 days after the sick person's fever and respiratory symptoms have gone away.
• If you develop a fever or respiratory symptoms, contact your healthcare provider immediately and tell him or her that you have had close contact with a SARS patient.