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May 21, 2003
HONOLULU - Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH) officials
announced today that preliminary test results from the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are negative for Hawaii’s
most recent suspect severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) case.
The case involves a man from Shanghai, China, who arrived in
Honolulu April 22. He was not ill at the time of travel but developed
mild symptoms soon after. He was evaluated by DOH physicians and
isolated at private home on Oahu. The man fully recovered but continued
isolation for 10 days after the end of fever and respiratory symptoms.
He has now been released from isolation.
"The fact that preliminary tests are negative, the illness was mild
and relatively short and that none of the man’s family became ill
indicate we are well on the way to ruling this case out," said Paul
Effler, M.D., State Epidemiologist. "We must continue to be vigilant,
anyone coming from an infected area needs to monitor their health for
10 days and seek prompt medical attention if they become ill."
SARS is a respiratory illness that has recently been reported in
Asia, North America, and Europe. The illness usually begins with a
fever (measured temperature greater than 100.4°F). The fever is
sometimes associated with chills or other symptoms, including headache,
general feeling of discomfort, body aches and respiratory symptoms at
the outset.
ACCESS has developed several community partnerships in Oahu
including Aloha United Way (211), Warm Lines, etc.
Additional information including updated case definition and
guidance is available at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
at 1(888) 246-2675 or www.cdc.gov and at the Department of Health web site www.hawaii.gov/doh.
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For more information, contact:
Laura M. Lott
Information Specialist
Phone: (808) 586-4418
E-mail: lmlott@health.state.hi.us
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