Health officials have identified a suspected case of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) in Cuyahoga County. The 61-year old male patient developed symptoms of SARS and recovered during his recent visit to China. Two additional suspected cases of SARS were also identified in Lucas County, siblings, an 11 month old female and 8 month old male. One of the patients had recently traveled to an area affected by SARS. The total number of cases in Ohio is at five with a worldwide death toll from the disease at 100.
SARS cases are considered a Class A-1 Disease. Class A-1 diseases require an immediate telephone call to the local health department upon its recognition, suspicion or positive laboratory result. Reportable diseases including SARS, are reportable to the local health department. In Cuyahoga County, report Class A-1 diseases by telephone at 216-443-5850.
For more information concerning SARS, its clinical
description, diagnosis/evaluation, exposure management, isolation/infection control,
treatment and reporting procedure contact the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) via the
Web at www.cdc.gov or by phone at the CDC Emergency
Operations Center at 1-770-488-7100. Updated information will be made on their
website. You may also contact the Cuyahoga County Public Health Collaborative at
216-443-5850 for additional questions. SARS information is also available on the
Cuyahoga County Board of Health's Web site at http://www.ccbh.net/services/epidemiology/sars.html