SARS – Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Definition
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is an acute respiratory infection that has recently been reported in Asia, North America, and Europe. SARS usually begins with a fever greater than 100.4 F [>38.0 C]. Other signs and symptoms may include headache, overall discomfort, body aches, and respiratory symptoms. Diagnostic criteria include travel (including transit in an airport) within 10 days of onset of symptoms to an area with current or recently documented or suspected community transmission of SARS or close contact within 10 days of onset of symptoms with a person known or suspected to have SARS.

What to do if you think you have SARS or SARS symptoms - CDC Recommendations

• If you become ill with fever and respiratory symptoms (for example, cough or shortness of breath), a visit to a health care provider is strongly recommended. Telephone the provider about your travel history and your symptoms prior to going to the office or emergency room so arrangements can be made, if necessary, to prevent transmission to others in the health care setting.

CDC Travel Recommendations, Advisories, and Alerts
Most of the U.S. cases of SARS have occurred among travelers returning from parts of the world affected by SARS. There have been very few cases as a result of spread to close contacts such as family members and health care workers. Currently, there is no evidence that SARS is spreading more widely in the community in the United States.

Travel advisories have been issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the CDC advising travelers to postpone all non-essential travel to “SARS affected areas.” Travel advisories are available at the CDC website at: www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/travel_advice.htm. Travel advisories in effect as of May 8, 2003 include those for Mainland China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and Taiwan. The CDC has also issued travel alerts for Hanoi, Vietnam, Singapore, and Toronto, Canada, to recommend that U.S. travelers to any of these places observe precautions to safeguard their health.

The University of California is engaged in a wide range of activities and programs that involve international travel by students, faculty, staff and visitors. In the course of these endeavors the University gives priority to protecting the public health and the safety and well-being of members of our campus communities. The following guidelines pertaining to SARS are based upon CDC recommendations.

In keeping with the recommendations issued by the CDC:

• The University strongly advises students, faculty and staff to postpone all non-essential travel to SARS affected countries and regions until such time as CDC travel advisories are modified or rescinded.

In circumstances in which travel to or from SARS affected regions is deemed essential:

• Students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors arriving from SARS affected areas should be advised to adhere to the CDC’s Health Alert Notice for travelers arriving in the U.S. from SARS affected areas.
  
• For campuses sponsoring organized programs that include individuals, including students, arriving from SARS affected areas, campus officials should take appropriate steps to help ensure that (1) travelers adhere to CDC recommendations regarding daily self-monitoring of their health, including temperature measurement, and notification of their health care providers in the event of illness, fever, or respiratory symptoms; and (2) sufficient local resources are available, if necessary, to meet CDC recommendations regarding diagnosis, evaluation and management of symptomatic individuals.
  
• The University requests that students, faculty, and staff returning from SARS affected areas contact a designated campus official or office, as defined by each campus, before returning to campus or other University activities.

The designated campus health care official will conduct a telephone interview and/or other assessment to determine whether or not an in-person health screening is warranted. Persons returning from affected areas will be counseled about SARS symptoms, CDC recommendations for daily self-monitoring of health status, including temperature measurement, infection control measures for themselves and others, and recommendations regarding notification, treatment, and the need to avoid contact with others at the first sign of illness. Information about accessing local health resources should be provided as part of this interaction. The designated campus health official should notify local health department authorities immediately if the patient is considered a suspected or probable SARS case.

• UC campuses should facilitate opportunities for counseling, guidance and/or active surveillance to assure that individuals understand and can comply with CDC recommendations for daily self-monitoring of health status, including temperature measurement, infection control measures, and CDC recommendations regarding notification, treatment, and the need to avoid contact with others at the first sign of illness. This should occur by creating a SARS Information Line or other resource that is widely publicized on each campus.
• Campus officials and individuals hosting or sponsoring newly arriving faculty, staff, students, and other visitors from SARS affected areas should facilitate compliance with these recommendations.

Guidelines and Recommendations for UC Healthcare Workers (HCW) and Staff
The University recognizes that providing care and diagnostic services to individuals with suspected, probable, or confirmed cases of SARS (as well as with other infectious diseases) may fall within the course and scope of the responsibilities of many University employees. Professional standards and UC employment expectations require health care workers to be informed about and to follow strict infection control practices, both at the workplace and at home.

Hospital infection control professionals and epidemiologists at UC medical centers have developed detailed policy recommendations and guidelines to meet the needs of students, faculty, and staff who may be exposed and/or symptomatic following contact with suspected or probable SARS patients. These policies include following CDC recommendations for self-monitoring of health status and infection control measures for themselves and others; and recommendations regarding notification, treatment, and the need to avoid contact with others at the first sign of illness. Adherence to these policies is mandatory.

These detailed recommendations are intended to minimize the potential for community spread of SARS and to ensure maximum protection of HCWs and all other individuals who work in or visit health care settings. Asymptomatic HCWs and other personnel are expected to continue to perform their normal duties unless or until they develop symptoms or signs that may be characteristic of SARS.

Recommendations concerning Visitors for Graduation and Other Brief Events
All visitors from SARS affected areas will receive a Health Alert Notice for International Travelers upon arrival in the U.S. and will be expected to follow its guidelines. Individuals expecting visitors from SARS affected areas are asked to provide their guests with the number for a SARS information line. This may be the CDC Hotline number, the California Department of Health Services Hotline number, a number offered by the local health department, a local campus number, or a combination of these. Additionally, guests should receive access to contact information for a designated campus official or office in the event that they have concerns that are not addressed satisfactorily by the above measures.

Future Updates
The University will issue periodic updates as needed and as new information is available.

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