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Symptoms, cause of SARS studied

Scientists around the world are racing to learn how to rapidly diagnose, treat and stop the spread of a new, deadly disease. SARS — Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome — was detected for the first time in February in Hanoi, and since then has infected more than 1,600 people in 15 countries, killing 63. At this point, there are more questions than answers surrounding the disease.

Experts at the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tell USA TODAY's Anita Manning what is known so far:

Q: What are the symptoms of SARS?
A: Symptoms start with a fever over 100.4 degrees F, sometimes with chills, headache or body aches. Within a week, the patient has a dry cough, which might progress to shortness of breath. In 10% to 20% of cases, patients require mechanical ventilation to breathe. About 3.5% die from the disease.

Q: How does the disease spread?
A: Most cases appear to have been passed through droplets expelled when infected patients cough or sneeze. Family members of infected people and medical workers who care for them have been most likely to contract the illness. But recent developments in Hong Kong suggest that the disease might spread through air, or that the virus might linger for two to three hours on doorknobs or other surfaces.

Health experts say it is unlikely, though, that sharing an elevator briefly with an infected person would be enough to pass the virus.

Q: Once exposed to SARS, how long would it take to get sick?
A: Symptoms generally begin in two to seven days, but some reports suggest it might take as long as 10 days.

Q: Where are the cases occurring?
A: The majority are in Asia, including mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Vietnam. Health Canada reports 98 suspect cases and four deaths. In the USA, the CDC reports 69 cases and no deaths.

Q: Is the U.S. government restricting travel to countries where there are cases of SARS?
A: Travel is not being restricted, but a CDC advisory recommends postponing elective or non-essential travel to Singapore, Hanoi, China and Hong Kong. People who have recently visited a country where SARS has been reported are advised to monitor their health for 10 days after their return home and consult a doctor if they develop a high fever with cough or trouble breathing.

Q: What about people coming to the USA from SARS countries?
A: Health officials are meeting planes, cargo ships and cruise ships that have come from China, Singapore and Vietnam. Passengers are given alert cards advising them to monitor their health for at least 10 days and to give the card to their physician if they develop any symptoms. The alerts advise physicians who suspect SARS to notify health officials.

Q: What happens if I want to cancel a trip to an affected area?
A: Several airlines are easing restrictions to allow reticketing for a later date. But those policies vary. United, for example, says passengers with tickets issued up to April 15 and scheduled to fly to Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore or Vietnam through May 31 can make one change for travel through Dec. 31 without penalty. American lets customers make one itinerary change without penalty. Northwest says only passengers traveling within SARS-affected areas in Asia who might be denied travel for medical reasons will be able to change plans without any charges.

Q: How is SARS diagnosed and treated?
A: Scientists are close to developing a lab test to diagnose SARS. In the meantime, it is diagnosed by its symptoms. There is no evidence that antibiotics, anti-viral medicines or steroids help, so doctors can offer only supportive care. Patients with SARS are kept in isolation to reduce the risk of transmission.

Q: What kind of microbe is it, and where did it come from?
A: Scientists aren't sure yet, but some researchers think it's a newly discovered coronavirus, the family of viruses that cause some common colds.

Q: How worried are U.S. health experts?
A: Health officials are concerned that it can spread quickly, and "could get much worse before it gets better," CDC Director Julie Gerberding says.

Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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