According to a March 28^th joint press release by Washington state and King County health officials, two King County residents have been listed as the first suspected cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Washington state. Both individuals were exposed outside of the United States, and there has been no evidence of transmission from these cases to other King County residents.  Public health officials with King County and the state health department noted that both cases have recovered and do not pose a risk to the public.  Officials also cautioned that the current case definition of SARS is intentionally extremely broad and cases currently classified as suspected SARS cases may turn out not to be related.  No cases of SARS have been reported among Clallam County residents.

The first case is a crewmember aboard a cargo ship that docked briefly at the Port of Tacoma, and the second case is a child in Seattle. "Though we were initially concerned about those aboard the ship, no one needed to be admitted to the hospital, and they are all doing well," said Dr. Jo Hofmann, state epidemiologist for communicable disease.  Dr. Hofmann, who was part of a team that evaluated ill crewmembers aboard the ship, says none of the sailors had the severe respiratory symptoms typical of SARS. The evaluation team determined there was no need to quarantine the ship or limit the travel of the crewmembers. The crew, including the 44-year-old Washington man, continued their voyage on-board the cargo ship. All members of the crew are reported healthy and feeling fine.  Clallam County health officials worked with local and state agencies to determine that the cargo ship in question passed through Port Angeles late last week but did not dock anywhere in Clallam County.  

Clallam County Health and Human Services, along with the state health department and other local health jurisdictions, have notified health care providers around the state to be on the lookout for the symptoms associated with SARS, especially in people who, in the 10 days before onset of illness, have traveled to certain areas in Asia or been in close contact with someone who has.  Clallam County health officials have been sending out periodic SARS Health Alert updates to local health care providers with information on the suspected cases in King County and updated information on surveillance and clinical management.

State and local health officials are closely monitoring the situation in King County and there is no cause for alarm for residents anywhere in Washington state.  SARS is a new disease that appears to have emerged from parts of Asia. The cause is unknown, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization say there is some evidence it may be a coronavirus, the same family of viruses that cause the common cold. The definition of a case is evolving as more is learned about this emerging disease.  Currently it include it includes the following:

• Measured fever of 100.4 degrees or higher.
• Symptoms of respiratory illness, such as cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing AND
• Recent travel to Hong Kong or mainland China; Hanoi, Vietnam; Singapore; OR
• Close contact  (having cared for, having lived with, or having direct contact with respiratory secretions and/or body fluids) with persons with respiratory illness who have traveled to any of these locations