The Oregon Department of Human Services is looking into a possible Oregon case of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. The patient, a 57-year-old Portland resident, experienced symptoms after a trip to China last month and was admitted to a Portland hospital last week. Her condition is stable and she is responding to treatment, according to a news release from DHS.
Though the patient’s symptoms meet the criteria for SARS diagnosis and the Center for Disease Control has added the case to its list of reported cases, health officials say the patient has not been officially diagnosed with SARS.
“Although this person technically meets the case definition prescribed by the Center for Disease Control, and is counted as a case on their Web site today, other more common diagnoses are thought to be more likely at this time,” state epidemiologist Mel Kohn said.
This is the first case of SARS reported in Oregon, but health officials say the general public is not at risk for infection.
SARS is a pneumonia-like respiratory illness caused by a virus of unknown origin. According to the World Health Organization, the first case of SARS was reported Feb. 26 in Hanoi, Vietnam. As of Saturday, WHO reported a total of 2,416 cases and 89 deaths in 18 countries. In the United States, 115 cases have been reported, but so far there have been no SARS-related deaths.
WHO has issued a travel advisory recommending individuals postpone all but essential travel to affected areas. International travels to affected areas should be aware of the main symptoms of SARS, such as a fever higher than 100.4 , dry cough, and shortness of breath or breathing difficulties. These areas include Canada, Singapore, China and Vietnam.
Health officials urge those who believe they may have SARS to contact their health care providers.
“If anyone believes they may have SARS, it’s important that they do not just drop in to see their doctor,” Kohn said. “They need to call ahead and arrange for an examination where the medical staff can protect themselves and other patients.”
Betsy Meredith of the Lane County Public Health Department said Lane County doctors are prepared to treat and diagnose possible SARS cases.
“(SARS) is definitely on doctors’ lists of possible diseases,” Meredith said. “When a patient reports a respiratory illness, doctors are ruling it out.”
Anne Mattson, a nurse practitioner at the University Health Center, said that while SARS is a dangerous disease that people should be informed about, “individuals should not panic if they become afflicted with respiratory symptoms.
“The symptoms of SARS are very similar to other treatable diseases.”