SARS: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
A Health alert has been issued about a new Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). cases have been linked to travel to Peoples' Republic of China (i.e., mainland China and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region); Hanoi, Vietnam; and Singapore.
Persons with SARS have a :
- Fever (>38 degrees C [100.4degrees F]) and
- Cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty in breathing, and
- History of travel to Peoples' Republic of China (i.e., mainland China and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region); Hanoi, Viertnam; and Singapore within 10 days of symptom onset or
- Close contact (within 10 days of symptom onset) to persons with respiratory illness having the above travel history. Close contact includes having cared for, lived with, or had direct contact with respiratory secretions and body fluids of a person with SARS.
If you are concerned that you might have SARS:
- Call the Health Center 361-1169 and ask for a nurse. If your concern is after regular business hours you can call Campus Security at 361-1264, and they will contact the nurse on call.
- Or you can be evaluated at the Hershey Medical Center Emergency Department
For updated information including frequently asked questions on SARS:
- http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/faq.htm
- http://www.who.int/
If you are planning to travel, the CDC and WHO have recommendations regarding the outbreak of SARS:
ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE SARS POLICY FOR INDIVIDUALS
WHO MAY BE SYMPTOMATIC
Outlined below are the procedures to follow when someone is identified in a workplace, classroom or residence as an individual who:
Have all the criteria mentioned above including:
Fever greater than 38 degrees C, and Cough, or Shortness of breath, or Influenza symptoms-general malaise, severe headache, and marked fatigue
Contact within the past 10 days with someone who has had a SARS diagnosis.
Traveled within the past 10 days to an affected area
PROCEDURES
The person in charge of the area where the individual has been identified as having a possible or probable case of SARS should:
1. Advise the Health Center (361-1169) and campus security at 361-1263 informing them that there is a possible SARS case for investigation
2. Ask the individual to isolate himself or herself in a separate room, preferably one with a window that opens
Campus Security will :
1. Obtain the name, telephone numbers, email address and postal address of all those present in the room when this person was identified
2. After business hours, campus security will inform the on-call nurse
The Health Center will :
1. Advise the Director of Health & Counseling Services and the Dean of College Life.
2. Make arrangements to transport the student to the Lancaster General Hospital Emergency Department
WHEN A PATIENT IS DIAGNOSED AS A SUSPECTED CASE OR PROBABLE CASE
When a patient is diagnosed as a suspected or probable SARS case on campus or elsewhere, this is the most likely scenario:
The Public Health Department personnel will question this patient as to possible contacts.
If the patient is an Elizabethtown College student or employee, the Department of Public Health will advise Health Services and solicit the help of the College community to identify all contacts. This may include:
**Obtaining class lists with the assistance of the faculty advisor;
**Identifying all those in a given laboratory, floor or building;
**Identifying all those on a given residence floor or at the cafeteria;
**Identifying all those in public places around the campus or in the community
3. The contacts will be given specific advice by Public Health, which may include quarantine for 10 days, during which time the individual will be asked to monitor his/her health
4. If the decision has been made to quarantine a contact, the Department of Public Health will evaluate the site to assess whether this can be done properly under the circumstances, and if not, then alternative accommodations will be made
5. The individual or individuals in quarantine will be contacted daily by the Public Health Department to verify health status and whether and quarantine is being respected
6. Students who are alone or are International students may require special assistance, such as:
** Reassurance (nurses from Health Services will be made available to answer questions)
**Anxiety and depression management (Counseling and Health Services will be available by telephone to provide assistance);
**Food services (Elizabethtown College will see that this is provided to all students involved);
**Help with other needs;
**Help with academic work
7. Anyone who is concerned about having had contact with a patient will be provided with special assistance. For example, questions could be directed to Health Services via telephone at (717) 361-1169 or by email at www.etown.edu. Additional outreach will be provided to groups by Health Services or Public Health.
For further information call the Health Center at x1169.
