Nassau County Health Department announces the first Nassau County suspect case of SARS in a 53 year old woman who returned from a four week stay in Singapore on March 24, 2003. The patient was not in direct contact with any known cases in Singapore. However, the patient's spouse was in direct contact with a known case in Singapore.

This patient first developed symptoms of cough and sore throat one week after returning on 3/31/03 and developed a fever on 4/4/03. The combination of fever, respiratory symptoms and travel to an affected area meets the CDC criteria for a suspect case. The patient remains confined at home and all household contacts have been advised to take appropriate measures to prevent infection and to monitor for early signs and symptoms. Household contacts have been instructed to wear masks around the patient and monitor their temperature and call the Health Department daily.

The Nassau County Health Department will monitor the patient's condition and is arranging for clinical samples to be sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

There is still great uncertainty about the cause, transmission, and clinical course and treatment of SARS. The CDC is conducting extensive field and laboratory investigations in collaboration with medical centers around the world. Worldwide, there have been approximately 2,300 cases with 79 deaths. In the United States there have been approximately 100 cases with no deaths to date.

Nassau County advises residents who have traveled to areas affected by SARS, (mainland China, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore) to consult their health care providers should they become ill.

Further general information about SARS is available at www.cdc.gov.