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Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a viral respiratory illness. It was first identified in China in late 2002 and was reported in Asia in February 2003. Over the next few months SARS spread to more than two dozen countries in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia before it was contained.
Although there have been very few cases of occupationally acquired
SARS in the United States, NIOSH recognizes the potential for spread
of the disease within the workplace, especially for workers who
experience daily contact with the general public, such as health
care, medical transport, and airline personnel, as well as those
who deal directly with potentially SARS infected material, such
as laboratorians. The following topic page is designed to present
general information about the disease, increase awareness of safety
precautions and work related issues, and provide links to additional
information for workers and employers. |
General Information About SARS
What Everyone
Should Know About SARS (CDC)
Basic information and FAQ, information about isolation and quarantine,
and how to prevent the spread of SARS.
Frequently Asked
Questions About SARS (CDC)
Questions and answers about the signs and symptoms, causes, and spread
of SARS, as well as information about travel, quarantine and other recommendations.
SARS in the Workplace
CDC Information for Specific Groups and Settings
Provides guidance for clinicians and healthcare settings, health departments, laboratories, and other workplaces.
External Link: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/
SARS Infection Control (CDC)
Provides general guidelines for preventing transmission, precautions during specific procedures, respirator guidance, cleaning and disinfection, and management of healthcare worker and other exposures.
External Link: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/ic.htm
Guidance about SARS for Airline Flight Crews, Cargo and Cleaning Personnel, and Personnel Interacting with Arriving Passengers (CDC)
Provides precautions for these airline workers and others interacting with passengers arriving from areas with SARS.
External Link: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/airpersonnel.htm
Guidance on Air Medical Transport for SARS Patients (CDC)
Guidance for ground and air medical transport of suspected SARS patients,
information for airline, airport, and air travel workers.
Cluster
of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Cases Among Protected Health-Care
Workers --- Toronto, Canada, April 2003 (MMWR)
The report follows the transmission of SARS from three infected
patients to their Canadian physician to health care workers treating the
ill physician. This cycle resulted in nine suspected and two probable
cases of SARS among the health care workers treating the physician.
Respiratory Protection
Understanding
Respiratory Protection Against SARS
Q & A about respirators and SARS, including what types of
respiratory protection should be used by health care workers and others
to protect against SARS.
NIOSH-Approved
Disposable Particulate Respirators (Filtering Facepieces)
Provides a listing of NIOSH-approved disposable particulate respirators
that health care workers can use to help protect themselves from diseases
potentially spread through the air, such as SARS or Tuberculosis.
Certified Equipment List
Searchable database of all NIOSH certified respirators and coal mine dust
personal sampler units.
NIOSH Respirator Topic Page
Provides information on respiratory protection, including user notices,
respirator selection, certification and standards.
TB Respiratory Protection Program
In Health Care Facilities: Administrator's Guide
Contains information specific to tuberculosis but also provides useful
information on respirators, including types used to protect healthcare
workers who may be exposed to SARS. Includes section on user
seal check and fit-testing.
NIOSH Videos
- "Respirators: Your TB Defense" and "TB Respiratory Protection:
Administrators Review"
These two programs are designed to educate health care workers on proper
respiratory protection. Contains information specific to Tuberculosis
but also provides useful information on respirators, including fit testing.
Eye Protection
Eye Protection for Infection Control
Provides background information and specific details on
eye protection that can be used to supplement eye protection recommendations
provided in current CDC infection control guidance documents. It is intended
to familiarize workers with the various types of eye protection available,
their characteristics, and their applicable use.
Web Sites With Additional SARS Information
Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA) information on SARS
External Link: http://www.osha.gov/dep/sars/
Background information on the disease, precautions, information for healthcare
workers, laboratory workers, airline flight crew and airport personnel,
more...
World Health Organization
(WHO) Information on SARS
External Link: http://www.who.int/csr/sars/en/
Current information and updates on the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome.
 This site contains documents in PDF format. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to access the file. If you do not have the Acrobat Reader, you may download a free copy from the Adobe Web site.
Page last updated: July 22, 2008
Page last reviewed: July 22, 2008
Content Source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
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