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The illness
1. What is severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)?
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)
is a viral respiratory infection.
2. What causes SARS?
It is caused by a coronavirus (SARS-CoV).
3. What is the incubation period of the disease?
The incubation period typically ranges from 2-7 days, but can be up to approximately 10 days.
4. What are the symptoms of the disease?
The initial symptoms are influenza-like. Patients with SARS usually begin with fever, which is often high (38oC or above), and sometimes associated with chills, rigors, headache, malaise, muscle pain or even diarrhoea. After a few days, symptoms of lower respiratory tract infection may follow, including cough without sputum and difficulty in breathing.
5. Is it a serious disease?
In around 10% of patients, the illness may rapidly progress to respiratory failure requiring intensive medical care.
6. If I have similar symptoms, what should I do?
You should wear a mask and consult a doctor promptly.
7. Is there a test for the disease?
Yes, several laboratory tests can detect SARS-CoV, the virus that causes SARS. Some tests can detect virus in clinical specimens, including respiratory secretions and stool. Serological tests can detect antibodies to SARS-CoV which are produced from around 10 days after onset of the illness.
8. Is there any treatment available?
The medical professionals are working towards identifying an effective treatment regimen.
9. What is the difference between classical/ typical pneumonia and SARS?
Classical/ typical pneumonia is mainly caused by bacteria such as streptococcus. SARS is caused by a coronavirus (SARS-CoV).
10. What is the difference between influenza and SARS?
Symptoms of influenza such as fever, cough and headache usually subside within a few days without any serious complications or signs of pneumonia.
Transmission
11. How is SARS transmitted?
SARS is predominantly transmitted through close person-to-person contact, especially via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Droplet spread can take place when droplets from the cough or sneeze of an infected person are propelled a short distance and deposited on the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, or eyes of persons who are nearby. The virus can also spread when a person touches a surface or object contaminated with infectious droplets and then touches his or her mouth, nose, or eyes.
12. Is it safe to use public swimming pools?
There is no evidence of transmission through swimming. In any case, people feeling unwell should not go swimming.
13. Can the disease be contracted by handling money?
There is no evidence of transmission through handling money. However, people should pay careful attention to their personal hygiene and wash hands frequently.
Prevention
14. Is there a vaccine against the disease?
A vaccine is not yet available.
15. Can smoking prevent SARS?
The answer is no. Smoking weakens immunity
and increases the chance of infection. When a person smokes,
the hands are frequently in touch with or positioned near the
mouth and nose, increasing the likelihood of acquiring the infection.
In addition, masks have to be taken off when smoking, hence
reducing protection.
16. What steps can be taken to help prevent contracting the disease?
- Maintain good personal hygiene
- Wash hands frequently and properly. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. If you must do so, wash your hands before touching them.
- Always carry a handkerchief or tissue paper. Cover the nose and mouth with it when sneezing or coughing. Remember to wash hands immediately with liquid soap afterwards.
- People with symptoms of respiratory tract infection or fever should wear a mask and consult a doctor promptly.
- Use serving chopsticks and spoons at meal time. Do not share lunch boxes and drinks.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle : a balanced diet, regular exercise and adequate
rest. Do not smoke.
- Maintain good environmental hygiene
- Keep home clean. Clean furniture and household facilities regularly. Ensure good ventilation.
- Keep the toilet clean.
- Maintain proper function of toilets, drains and pipes. Clean the floor drain outlets regularly.
- Do not spit or litter.
17. How can I avoid contracting the disease in an office setting?
If feeling unwell, employees should seek early medical advice and not go to work. All staff should maintain good personal hygiene and a healthy lifestyle. The office should be well ventilated, and windows should be opened from time to time. Air conditioners should be well maintained and cleaned regularly. Office furniture and equipment should be kept clean.
18. How can I prevent contracting the disease in a lift?
Maintain good personal hygiene. Wash hands frequently. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when sneezing or coughing. Wear a mask if you have symptoms of respiratory tract infection. Building management should ensure lifts and public access areas are kept clean. Lift control panels and door handles should be thoroughly and frequently cleaned with a diluted household bleach solution. For metallic surfaces, use a 70% alcohol solution for cleaning.
19. How can I avoid contracting the disease when travelling on public transport?
- Observe good personal hygiene. Use a tissue paper to hold your spit, then dispose of the soiled tissue paper properly into a bin with a cover.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Keep windows open whenever possible to ensure good ventilation.
- Do not smoke.
- Use a bag to hold vomit and dispose of it properly.
- Wash your hands frequently.
20. Should I take any precautions when visiting a health care facility?
People seeking medical consultation should maintain good personal hygiene. Wash hands frequently. Wear a mask.
21. What precautions should be taken by close contacts1 of a SARS patient?
Close contacts of a SARS patient will be required to undergo quarantine for 10 days or any specified period, during which they should:
- Wear a mask to reduce droplet spread.
- Avoid close contact with family members and other people.
- Maintain good personal hygiene. Wash hands frequently.
- Keep the environment clean and hygienic. Clean the household facilities daily with a diluted household bleach solution; pay attention to proper functioning and cleanliness of toilets and drains; and control breeding of pests.
- Pay special attention to their health. Seek early medical advice if feeling unwell.
Remarks:
1Close contact means someone who cares for, lives with, or has direct contact with the respiratory secretions or bodily fluids of a person with SARS.
22. Should clothes be washed after visiting hospitals?
Yes. Wash them as soon as you get home.
23. What precautions should be adopted when having meal at home or in restaurants?
Do not share eating utensils. Adopt the good practice of using serving spoons and chopsticks. Do not share lunch boxes and drinks.
Masks
24. Does wearing a mask help to prevent respiratory tract infections?
Wearing a mask properly helps to protect against infections transmitted by respiratory droplets and prevent spread of the infections.
25. Who should wear a mask?
The following people should wear a mask in the Non-SARS period:
- People with respiratory infection symptoms or fever.
- People who care for patients with respiratory infection or fever.
- People visiting or working in healthcare facilities.
When SARS is reported overseas, additional to the above measures, a mask is recommended for:
- Outbound travellers visiting SARS affected areas;
- Staff working at border control points and deployed for public health control actions ;
- As per instructions given by hospitals/ clinics for staff, patients and visitors.
When SARS is reported locally, a mask is further recommended for:
- People visiting crowded or poorly ventilated places;
- People who have been in close contact1 with SARS patients should wear a mask for 10 days from the last contact. Social contacts2 of a SARS patient may also wear a mask.
As this list cannot be exhaustive, members of the public are reminded to exercise judgment in accordance with guidance given above. In general, anyone who feels the need to wear a mask is advised to do so.
Remarks:
1Close contact means someone who cares for, lives with, or has direct contact with the respiratory secretions or bodily fluids of a person with SARS.
2Social contact means someone who has casual contact with a person suffering from SARS, i.e. someone not involved in the care of, not living with, or not having direct contact with the respiratory secretions or bodily fluids of an infected person.
26. What type of mask should be used?
Under general conditions, both surgical mask and the N95 mask can help preventing the spread of droplet infections.
27. What are the points to note when wearing a surgical mask?
- Wash hands before putting on a mask, before and after taking one off;
- Follow the instructions given by the supplier;
- The proper method of putting on a mask:
- The coloured side of the mask faces outwards, with the metallic strip uppermost;
- The strings or elastic bands are positioned properly to keep the mask firmly in place;
- The metallic strip moulds to the bridge of the nose and the mask should fit snugly over the face;
- The mask should cover the nose, mouth and chin.
- Try not to touch the mask once it is secured on your face. If you must do so, wash your hands before and after touching the mask;
- When taking off the mask, avoid touching the outside of the mask as this part may be covered with germs;
- After taking off the mask, put the mask into a plastic or paper bag before putting it into a rubbish bin with a lid.
Wearing a mask is just one way to help prevent respiratory tract infections. Remember to observe good hygiene practice and healthy lifestyle.
28. How often should a mask be replaced?
In general, a surgical mask needs to be changed daily. However, replace the mask immediately if it becomes worn or damaged.
Department of
Health
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