Severe
Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
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Severe
Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS, is a severe form of pneumonia. The
cause of SARS is still not confirmed, however national and international
laboratory testing and collaboration is ongoing.
The
main symptoms of SARS include both a high fever (over 38° Celsius) and
respiratory problems, including dry cough, shortness of breath or
breathing difficulties. A chest X-ray
would indicate pneumonia. People with SARS may also experience other
symptoms, including headache, muscular stiffness, loss of appetite,
malaise, confusion, rash and diarrhea.
The
disease is spread from one person to another only through close contact -
through droplets from coughing or sneezing, or from direct face-to-face
contact. There is no evidence to date that the disease spreads through
casual contact, or through the air.
SARS
appears to be less infectious than the flu, with an incubation period
estimated to range from 2-10 days.
If
you do not develop symptoms within 10 days from your last possible
exposure to SARS, you are out of the risk period.
Home
Quarantine
For
people who may have had contact with SARS, during the 10 days following
exposure, you should stay in home quarantine. This means remaining at
home, wearing a mask when in contact with other family members, using your
own personal items (such as towels, glasses, utensils, etc.), washing your
hands often, sleeping in a separate room, and checking your temperature
twice daily.
If
anyone in your home develops a fever over 38° Celsius, respiratory
symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing), headache, or
feels sick, contact :
your
local health unit, or Telehealth
Ontario at 1-866-797-0000.
Otherwise,
family members of healthy people who are quarantined do not need to stay
home because there is no risk they can transmit SARS.
