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This is an official
CDC HEALTH ADVISORY

Distributed via Health Alert Network
Thursday, April 22, 2004, 18:45 EDT (6:45 PM EDT)
CDCHAN-00197-2004-04-22-ADV-N

New Possible SARS Case Reported in Beijing

On April 22, 2004, the Chinese Ministry of Health reported a possible case of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in a 20-year-old woman who works as a nurse in a hospital in Beijing. If confirmed, this will be the first case of SARS since January 2004, when Chinese health authorities confirmed SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) infection in three persons in Guangdong Province.

According to media reports and information on the World Health Organization (WHO) website, the woman reported onset of fever, cough, and chills on April 5. She was admitted to a hospital in Beijing on April 7 and was transferred to the intensive-care unit at another Beijing hospital on April 14, where she remains in intensive care. On April 22, a panel of Chinese experts diagnosed the 20-year-old patient as a case of possible SARS, based on positive test results for antibodies to SARS-CoV in serum. The source of the patient's infection is unknown at this time.

Beijing public health authorities have initiated an epidemiologic investigation. Of 171 close contacts under medical observation, 5 have developed fever and have been placed in isolation. The Chinese MOH has requested local health authorities in China to enhance surveillance for SARS, influenza-like illness, and pneumonia of unknown etiology. CDC is in close communication with WHO about the newly identified possible case in China and will provide additional information as it becomes available.In light of this report, CDC is recommending that U.S. physicians maintain a greater index of suspicion for SARS in patients who 1) require hospitalization for radiographically confirmed pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) AND 2) who have a history of travel to mainland China (or close contact with an ill person with a history of recent travel to mainland China) in the 10 days before onset of symptoms. When such patients are identified, they should be considered at high risk for SARS-CoV infection and the following actions should be taken: Patients should immediately be placed in appropriate isolation precautions for SARS (i.e., contact and airborne precautions along with eye protection).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) protects people's health and safety by preventing and controlling diseases and injuries; enhances health decisions by providing credible information on critical health issues; and promotes healthy living through strong partnerships with local, national and international organizations.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


HAN Message Types
  • Health Alert: Conveys the highest level of importance; warrants immediate action or attention. Example: HAN00001
  • Health Advisory: Provides important information for a specific incident or situation; may not require immediate action. Example: HAN00316
  • Health Update: Provides updated information regarding an incident or situation; unlikely to require immediate action. Example: HAN00309
  • Info Service: Provides general information that is not necessarily considered to be of an emergent nature. Example: HAN00319

 

## This Message was distributed to State and Local Health Officers, Public Information Officers, Epidemiologists and HAN Coordinators as well as Clinician organizations ##

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