![Travel Health Advisory](/web/20061210215300im_/http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/tmp-pmv/gfx/advisory_e.gif)
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in
the People's Republic of China including the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region and Taiwan
May 15, 2003
At this time, Health Canada is monitoring confirmed reports of severe acute
respiratory syndrome (SARS) in the People's Republic of China including the
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Taiwan, and the occurrence of
isolated cases in other countries. Health Canada's recommendations for travellers
are based on the best available information at this time and are subject to
change as more information becomes available.
As of May 15, 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports:
Australia - 6 cases, Brazil - 2 cases, Bulgaria - 1 case,
Columbia - 1 case, Finland - 1 case, France - 7 cases, Germany - 9 cases,
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China
- 1703 cases (234 deaths), India - 3 cases, Indonesia - 2 cases, Italy - 9
cases, Korea - 3 cases, Kuwait - 1 case, Macao Special Administrative Region
of the People's Republic of China -1 case, Malaysia - 7 cases (2 deaths),
Mongolia - 9 cases, New Zealand - 1 case, People's Republic of China - 5163
cases (271 deaths), Philippines - 12 cases (2 deaths), Republic of Ireland
- 1 case, Romania - 1 case, Singapore - 205 cases (28 deaths), South Africa
- 1 case (1 death), Spain - 1 case, Sweden - 3 cases, Switzerland - 1 case,
Taiwan - 264 cases (30 deaths), Thailand - 8 cases (2 deaths), UK - 4 cases,
USA - 64 cases, and Vietnam - 63 cases (5 deaths).
Source: World Health Organization
As of 15 May 2003, Health Canada has received reports of approximately 319
cases of SARS (140 probable and 179 suspect cases) in Canada. Twenty-four
deaths have occurred due to SARS in Canada. To date, transmission has been
limited to specific transmission settings such as households, hospitals and
specific community settings.
-
Ontario: 136 probable and 122 suspect cases
-
British Columbia: 4 probable and 44 suspect cases
-
Saskatchewan: 1 suspect case
-
New Brunswick: 2 suspect cases
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Alberta: 6 suspect cases
-
Prince Edward Island: 4 suspect cases
A "suspect" case of SARS is a person who fits into one of the
following two categories: a person who develops fever and one or more respiratory
symptoms, including cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, within
10 days of returning from travel to areas in Asia where SARS cases are being
reported, or a person who develops fever and one or more respiratory symptoms,
including cough, shortness of breath or difficulty, breathing, within 10 days
of having had close contact with a "probable " case of SARS (i.e.
within one meter).
A "probable" case of SARS is similar to a suspect case, but often
the case has a more severe illness, with progressive shortness of breath and
difficulty breathing, and in some cases, chest x-rays shows signs of atypical
pneumonia.
[The above descriptions of a probable and suspect case are provided for communication
purposes and not for scientific purposes]
At this time, the cause of the illness remains unknown, however national
and international laboratory testing and collaboration are ongoing.
Recommendations
Due to the continued concern about transmission of the SARS agent in non-hospital
and community settings in the People's Republic of China, including Taiwan,
Health Canada continues to recommend that Canadians planning to travel to
these areas should defer all travel until further notice. As well, Health
Canada recommends alternate routing be considered, when possible, if a traveller
is transiting through these areas.
Based on the current evidence that the SARS situation has peaked and is
confined to certain well defined areas in Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region, Health Canada recommends that Canadians defer all elective or non-essential
travel to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Health Canada is aware that health authorities in these affected areas are
making concerted efforts to contain the spread of SARS in their populations.
Given the uncertainties of the current situation, Health Canada believes it
is prudent to await the outcome of national and international control measures
before undertaking travel to these destinations.
Travellers are advised that they will have to depend upon the local medical
services in the countries where they reside or visit and are reminded that
the health care services may be inadequate for the appropriate management
of SARS. In addition, medical evacuation of a patient with SARS may be very
difficult. Canadian Missions may not be able to assist Canadians with SARS
with medical transportation out of the region or back to Canada.
Persons who are travelling or have travelled to these areas should monitor
their health for 10 days following their departure from these areas. Should
a fever AND one or more of the following respiratory symptoms occur
- cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing - Health Canada recommends
that medical advice be sought as soon as possible. Ill persons should call
ahead to their personal physician or local public health unit/department
for information about the appropriate Emergency Department or established
SARS Centre they should visit for assessment. Travellers should inform their
personal physician when and where they travelled, and indicate whether there
was contact with someone who had these symptoms. While not all travellers
with these symptoms have developed SARS, it is nevertheless important to ensure
that if you do get these symptoms, you stay away from other people until you
have been assessed for SARS. These actions are very important for stopping
the spread of SARS.
Independent of the current international SARS outbreak, Health Canada routinely
recommends that Canadian travellers seek an individual risk assessment consultation
with their personal physician or a travel medicine clinic to determine their
individual risks for illness.
Canadian travellers are reminded to practice good personal hygiene (e.g.,
good hand-washing practices) while travelling. Disease-causing micro-organisms
can frequently be found on the hands. Hand-washing is the single most important
procedure for preventing infections.
Canadian travellers are advised to continually monitor the latest Health
Canada's travel advisories.
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