Download Outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in

Outbreak of Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
in Hong Kong
The Hong Kong
Medical Association
Types of Pneumonia

Bacterial Pneumonia

Atypical Pneumonia - Mycoplasma
Viral
Chemical
Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)

First recognised in Feb 2003 (case in Hanoi)

A form of Atypical Pneumonia

characteristics - high fever (>38°C or 100.4° F)
- dry cough
- breathing difficulties
- rapid deterioration
No. of case of SARS worldwide
From: 1 Feb 2003 To: 27 Mar 2003, 17:30 GMT+1
Cumulative no. of
case(s)
Country
Canada
No. of
deaths
Local
transmission
28
3
Yes
806
34
Yes
4
0
367
10
Italy
2
0
None
Republic of Ireland
2
0
None
78
2
Yes
Slovenia
3
0
None
Spain
1
0
None
Switzerland
2
0
To be determined
Taiwan, China
6
0
Yes
Thailand
3
0
None
United Kingdom
3
0
None
United States
45
0
To be determined
Viet Name
58
4
Yes
1408
53
China
Germany
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China
Singapore
Total
None
Yes
Epidemiological linkage
PWH index patient
1 Mainland visitor
Onset: 21 Feb 03
Succumbed at KWH
Metropole
Hotel
1 American Chinese
3 Singapore visitors
Outbreak in Singapore
Onset: 21 Feb 03
2 Canadian visitors
Hanoi outbreak index case
A private hospital outbreak on Hong Kong Island
Outbreak in Toronto, Canada
Symptoms of
Respiratory Illness
Symptoms
Frequency
Fever
Chills
Malaise
Headache
Myalgia
Cough
Dizziness
100%
92%
90%
84%
67%
50%
49%
Rigors
44%
Sore throat
Runny nose
Productive cough
43%
39%
36%
Known Facts about SARS

Less infectious than influenza

Incubation 2 to 7 days

Infective period?

A new virus?

Any treatment?

Mortality?
How does SARS spread?

NOT airborne

Droplets
- via close contact with an infected person

Contaminated working surfaces
(e.g. formites, stainless steel)
~ survival up to 6 hours
The wearing of face masks

Healthcare workers looking after
suspected/confirmed cases of SARS

Family members of suspected/
confirmed case

Wearing in public area?

N95? Surgical mask?
Prevention of
Respiratory Tract Infection (1)

Building good body immunity by having a
proper diet, regular exercise and adequate
rest, reducing stress and avoiding smoking;

Maintain good personal hygiene, and wash
hands after sneezing, coughing or cleaning
the nose;

Maintain good ventilation;
Prevention of
Respiratory Tract Infection (2)

Avoid visiting crowded places with poor
ventilation;

Put on a mask if taking care of a patient
with respiratory symptoms and wash hands
thoroughly afterwards;

Put on a mask if suffering from respiratory
tract infection to reduce the chance of
spreading the infection to people around
them.
Statistics on communityacquired pneumonia (CAP)
Disease
2001
2002
2003
(till 15/3/2003)
Pneumonia
24,400
18,000
3,646

There is no unusual rise in the number of CAP

The causes of CAP are similar to previous years
(50% each of known causes and unknown causes)
~ The End ~
The Hong Kong
Medical Association