1. What is SARS?

SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) is a syndrome that has following symptoms: high fever, coughing, and respiratory problems. The outbreak took place in November 2002 starting from China's southern province Guangdong spreading to neighboring countries such as Hong Kong, Singapore and even jumping across the Pacific Ocean to Canada and still on its way.

2. Causative Agent

The causative agent is known to be a new form of the corona virus, one of a few viruses that can cause the common cold.

3. How it Spreads

It is said that the illness spreads through droplets by sneezing or coughing or even speaking. The virus may also spread indirectly (for example, through an object a patient has touched) since it can survive outside the human body for days. Once a person is exposed to the illness, it takes 2 to 7days, the most, 10 days for symptoms to develop.

To avoid infection, wash your hands often and keep yourself clean. Individual sanitation is the key to prevent getting the disease.

4. Symptoms.

1) Prodromal Phase

: Early stage of symptom. It often accompanies high fever around 38 degrees Celsius, chill, stiffness, headache, weakening of the body and myalgia.

2) Lower Respiratory Phase

: This stage appears 3 to 7 days after infection. The symptoms of this stage are dry coughing, respiratory problems, and hollow respiration that can lead to hypoxemia.

Patients of SARS can be divided into 2 categories:

1. Patients who recover: 80~90% of patients recover after 6or 7 days after infection.

2. Patients who get worse: About 10% of the patients’ symptoms develop into Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. These patients need mechanical respiration.

The fatality rate among persons with SARS is around 10% for healthy adults, but jumps to as high as 55%in people age 60 or older.

5. Definition to SARS patient

1) Suspect case

1] A person has high fever over 38 degrees Celsius accompanied by coughing and respiratory problems and is relevant to one or more of the following situations:

-A person has had close contact with suspected or presumed SARS patient.

-A person has traveled or has been exposed to SARS dangerous areas.

-A person has experience living in SARS dangerous areas.

2] A person has died of unexplained respiratory disease but the corps has not been examined and he/she is relevant to one or more of the following situations:

-A person has had close contact with suspected or presumed SARS patient.

-A person has traveled or has been exposed to SARS dangerous areas.

-A person has experience living in SARS dangerous areas.

2) Probable case

1] A person is a suspected patient and through chest x-ray examination shows:

- Symptoms close to pneumonia.

- Symptoms close to the Respiratory distress syndrome

2] A suspected patient shows positive response to the corona virus

3] A person has died of unknown respiratory disease. (Through body examination)

6. Exclusion standard

A patient has been judged to have another disease whose symptoms can be clearly explained.

7. SARS exposed areas

- China inland, Hong Kong

- Singapore

- Taiwan

- Mongolia

- The Philippines

8. Dealing with a SARS patient or suspected patient

A suspected patient will be isolated in an appointed hospital by the Ministry and will receive hospital treatment.

To avoid spreading of disease strict isolation is inevitable.

9. Preventing SARS

To prevent SARS,

1) Avoid traveling to SARS exposed areas. (inland China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Mongolia, The Philippines)

2) Wash hands frequently and avoid contact with large numbers of people.

10. Treatment

There is currently no treatment for SARS although researchers are testing a variety of anti-viral medications to see if any have as effect on the illness.