News

SARS STATEMENT

Friday 16th May 2003

Advice for students returning from affected areas

If you have actually been in close contact with someone who has SARS in the 10 days before returning to the University, you must contact the University Doctor upon your return. Close contact means living with, or looking after, a person with SARS. We will then arrange to monitor you each day for symptoms during the risk period.

If you have not had close contact with a SARS patient there is no need to contact the University Doctor if well, but should you develop a fever or flu-like symptoms in the first 10 days after returning, you should immediately contact the University Doctor. You should avoid contact with others until you have spoken with the Doctor.

Students returning from SARS risk areas will not be quarantined and will be allowed to attend classes and take exams if well. If you do become unwell and need to be isolated by the medical authorities your department will make alternative arrangements for you to take the exams once recovered.

Do not come to the health centre until you have spoken with the University Doctor by phone. You should limit your contact with others until you have been assessed.

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Advice to other students and staff

The risk to you is very small. On current evidence, most cases of transmission occur after patients become obviously ill. Risk of transmission is lower during the early stages of illness. If you develop a flu like illness then just treat it in the normal way. You do not need to contact the University Doctor and there is no need to avoid contact with other students.

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Frequently Asked Questions on SARS

Q: What is Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)?
A: SARS is the term being used to describe a serious respiratory illness which has recently been reported in parts of East and South East Asia.

Q: What are the symptoms of SARS?
A: The main symptoms of SARS are high fever (>38 degrees Celsius), dry cough, shortness of breath or breathing difficulties. Changes in chest X-rays indicative of pneumonia also occur. SARS may be associated with other symptoms, including headache, muscular stiffness, loss of appetite, malaise, confusion, rash and diarrhoea.

Q: How contagious is SARS?
A: Based on currently available evidence, close contact with an infected person poses the highest risk of the infective agent to spread from one person to another. To date the majority of cases have occurred in hospital workers who have cared for SARS patients and the close family members of these patients. However the amount of the infective agent needed to cause an infection has not yet been determined.

Q: What is the treatment for SARS?
A: Antibiotics and antiviral drugs are being used to treat the illness but without knowing the cause there is no specific treatment.

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Q: How fast does SARS spread?
A: SARS appears to be less infectious than influenza. The incubation period is believed to be short, around 3-6 days. However, the speed of international travel creates a risk that cases can rapidly spread around the world.

Q: What can I do to protect myself?
A: Only a few cases have been identified outside of South East Asia and these cases were in people who had travelled from there. The best advice is to be aware of the symptoms of this illness, particularly if you have recently travelled in Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam and other parts of South East Asia and seek medical advice should you develop them within 10 days of your return.

Q: Is there a vaccine for this?
A: No, a vaccine is not available as the pathogen responsible is as yet unknown.

Q: How many cases of SARS have been reported to date?
A: For the latest number of cases reported in the UK, please refer to the Health Protection Agency website at www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/SARS/pdfs/task.pdf . As of 2nd April, only 3 'probable' cases have been diagnosed in the UK.

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Q: Is the outbreak in Guangdong Province, China linked?
A: Extensive investigation is under way to better understand the outbreak of atypical (unusual) pneumonia that began in Guangdong province in November 2002. Findings from this investigation should help clarify possible links with cases of SARS.

Q: Could this result from bioterrorism?
A: There is no indication that SARS is linked to bioterrorism.

Q: What should I do if I am planning to travel to Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand or other areas of South East Asia?
A: Travellers to South East Asia need to be aware of these outbreaks and take them into account in their travel plans. Latest information is available in the FCO website at www.fco.gov.uk .

Q: What should I do if I have recently returned from South East Asia and feel unwell?
A: If you have recently returned from South East Asia and suffer from any of the following symptoms: sudden onset of fever (>38 degrees Celsius) together with respiratory symptoms such as cough, sore throat, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing within 10 days of return, please contact your GP surgery (Masonic House Surgery +44 (0)1280 816450) or phone NHS Direct on +44 (0)845 4647.

Finally

All travellers from at risk areas are now screened for symptoms, and possible contacts before being allowed to travel so the chance of catching the disease if you have not been to SE Asia is extremely small.

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