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Scared of SARS?

Question

I'm concerned about this new illness reported to be coming from Asia. I shop in an Asian grocery market quite often. How do you catch this disease and is there any reason why I should stay away from the market?

-- Jennifer Manago

Answer

The new disease is SARS -- severe acute respiratory syndrome. Shopping in an Asian market on this side of the Pacific should not be cause for concern. There is no evidence that the virus that causes SARS could survive travel from Asia on imported products. It seems to be passed via sustained face to face contact, but because 107 cases occurred in a single apartment tower in Hong Kong, health authorities are investigating the possibility that it may also spread through air, water, sewage and contaminated objects. Most of the people infected elsewhere have been relatives of the patients or health care workers who treated them.

SARS began in China and most cases have occurred there and in Hong Kong. Although the number of cases changes daily, as I write this the World Health Organization count is 141 cases and no deaths in the United States and 90 cases (with nine deaths) in Canada. Investigating scientists suspect that SARS is a mutated strain of coronavirus, one of the bugs that cause the common cold.

Most cases begin with a fever higher than 100.4 F (38 C) often accompanied by chills, headache, body aches, fatigue and mild respiratory symptoms. In the early stages, patients may also have decreased white blood cell counts and diarrhea. After three to seven days, patients may develop a dry cough that increases in severity

Between 80 to 90 percent of all patients get better in five to six days. However, in 10 to 20 percent of cases respiratory symptoms worsen until lung congestion requires mechanical ventilation to supply adequate oxygen. The severity of SARS among patients is highly variable, ranging from mild symptoms to death. The death rate is 3 to 4 percent. We don’t know yet how long a patient who has had SARS remains contagious.

The CDC recommends washing your hands frequently to guard against infection. This is always good advice, especially during cold and flu season. These infections spread when sick people touch their noses or mouths and then touch surfaces such as doorknobs, telephones or elevator buttons. If you’re the next one to touch these objects, you can pick up the bug.

Health authorities are warning against non-essential travel to China and Hong Kong, but if you have no travel plans and have had no contact with anyone exposed to SARS, there is no reason to worry. For peace of mind, you might take an herbal immune-enhancer such as astraglaus, which is nontoxic and has a good track record in warding off viral respiratory infections.

By Andrew Weil, M.D.