COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER

Professor Richard Smallwood AO

GPO Box 9848 Canberra ACT 2601 Health and Ageing

SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME

Information for General Practitioners and other Health Professionals

The World Health Organisation has issued a global alert warning health authorities about a highly contagious form of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.

During the past week, WHO has received reports of more than 150 new suspected cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) an atypical pneumonia for which cause has not yet been determined. Reports to date have been received from Canada, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

There have been no cases of this form of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome confirmed in Australia. There is presently no recommendation from the WHO to restrict travel to any destination.

The main symptoms and signs of this form of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome include:

• high fever (>38ºC)

• one or more respiratory symptoms including cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing

• close contact* with a person who has been diagnosed with SARS
• recent history of travel to areas reporting cases of SARS

Federal Health officials recommend that patients admitted to hospital who fulfil the WHO case definition be reviewed in consultation with State and Territory public health authorities and be isolated with barrier nursing techniques. Physicians should also consider negative pressure isolation.

Hospitals or physicians who come into contact with a patient with these symptoms who has recently travelled overseas must urgently notify their State or Territory Public Health or Communicable Diseases Unit.

You should understand that with the large numbers of passengers arriving from Asian ports, and the frequency of fever and respiratory symptoms, it is likely that most persons who satisfy these criteria will not have SARS.

If you have any queries regarding this new syndrome, please contact your State or Territory Public Health or Communicable Diseases Unit.

The World Health Organisation is closely monitoring the situation and is maintaining close contact with Australian health authorities.

Other useful information about Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome can be found on the following websites:

Professor John Mathews

Acting Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer

18 March 2003-03-25

*Close contact means having cared for, having lived with, or having had direct contact with respiratory secretions and body fluids of a person with SARS.