- Contact: Tim Church, WA Department of Health Comm Office
360-534-0068, pager
- James Apa, King County Communications Office 206-583-9785,
pager
- Matias Valenzuela, King County Communications Office
206-540-4887, pager
- Donn Moyer, WA Department of Health Communications 360-786-2537,
pager
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- Two suspected cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome
(SARS) in Washington state
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- KING COUNTY - Two King County residents have been listed
as the first suspected cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)
in Washington state. Both individuals were exposed outside of the United
States, and there has been no evidence of transmission from these cases
to other King County residents.
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- "These cases have recovered, and we believe they
do not pose a risk to the public. There is no evidence of transmission
to other county residents," said Dr. Jeff Duchin, chief of Public
Health - Seattle & King Countys Communicable Disease Section. "In
fact, the current definition for SARS is intentionally extremely broad,
and it is likely that not all people classified as cases at this time have
SARS."
-
- The first case is a crewmember aboard a cargo ship that
docked briefly at the Port of Tacoma, and the second case is a child in
Seattle. "Though we were initially concerned about those aboard the
ship, no one needed to be admitted to the hospital, and they are all doing
well," said Dr. Jo Hofmann, state epidemiologist for communicable
disease.
-
- Local health departments and health care professionals
in Washington state have been notified to be on the lookout for the symptoms
associated with SARS, especially in people who, in the 10 days before illness
onset, have traveled to certain areas in Asia or been in close contact
with someone who has.
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- Public Health - Seattle & King County and the state
Department of Health have been continuously informing the medical community
regarding SARS management and screening guidelines for providers, as well
as travel guidelines to the general public. The agencies are closely monitoring
the situation, and there is currently no cause for alarm in King County
or Washington state. Dr. Hofmann, who was part of a team that evaluated
ill crewmembers aboard the ship, says none of the sailors had the severe
respiratory symptoms typical of SARS. The evaluation team determined there
was no need to quarantine the ship or limit the travel of the crewmembers.
The crew, including the 44-year-old Washington man, continued their voyage
on-board the cargo ship. All members of the crew are reported healthy and
feeling fine.
-
- SARS is a new disease that appears to have emerged from
parts of Asia. The cause is unknown, but the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention and the World Health Organization say there is some evidence
it may be a corona virus, the same family of viruses that cause the common
cold. The definition of a case is evolving as more is learned about this
emerging disease. Currently, it includes the following:
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- Measured fever of 100.4 degrees or higher.
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- Symptoms of respiratory illness, such as cough, shortness
of breath, or difficulty breathing AND
- Recent travel to Hong Kong or mainland China; Hanoi,
Vietnam; Singapore; OR
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- Close contact with persons with respiratory illness who
have traveled to any of these locations.
- More information is available on the Washington State
Department of Health SARS Health Alert Web page http://www.doh.wa.gov/sars.htm
and the Public Health - Seattle & King County SARS Health Alert Web
page
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- http://www.metrokc.gov/health/providers/sars.htm
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