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THE SARS OUTBREAK
What policies should the United States
government implement to deal with the spread of
the deadly SARS virus?
© PIH 2007
THE SARS VIRUS – A BRIEF OVERVIEW
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a
viral respiratory illness.
 The main way that SARS seems to spread is by
close person-to-person contact. The virus also can
spread when a person touches a surface or object
contaminated with infectious droplets and then
touches his or her mouth, nose, or eye(s).
 In general, SARS begins with a high fever. Other
symptoms may include headache, an overall feeling
of discomfort, and body aches. Most patients
develop pneumonia. The disease is fatal for many.
 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Step 1: Read the article entitled
How SARS Is Strangling Hong Kong
Step 2: Watch the Video - Mellissa
Fung reports for CBC
QUARANTINE HITS TORONTO SCHOOL IN
SARS FIGHT
BY CLIFFORD KRAUSS WITH LAWRENCE K. ALTMAN – NEW YORK TIMES
“Health authorities today quarantined as many as
2,000 students, teachers and staff members of a
large parochial school on the outskirts of Toronto
that was closed after an 11th-grade student
attended classes for two days last week while
showing symptoms of SARS.”
 “Health officials did not identify the parochial school
student with the symptoms of the disease, but did
say he is a son of a health care worker who was
infected at North York General Hospital…”

HONG KONG
TORONTO
U.S.?

Predict the potential impact the spread of the SARS
virus would have if it were to spread to this country.

Impact on the economy:

Social impacts:

Impact on politics/military:

Other impacts:
THE SCENARIO:
A special advisory panel of national experts has
been convened to help the President develop
policies to deal with this potential emergency. Your
job as a member of this panel is to address this
question:
What should the President do if SARS breaks
out in the United States?
 In order to adequately respond to this question, you
should develop policies that effectively address
many of the potential impacts of this emergency
(political, economic, social, religious).
