Nassau County Health Department announces the sixth Nassau County resident with a suspect case of SARS. The patient is a 52-year-old female health care worker who provided care to a patient hospitalized in another county with a diagnosis of suspect SARS. The individual first developed a fever or June 9, 2003, and developed a cough on June 11, 2003. She is currently recovering at home and all appropriate respiratory isolation measures are in effect. The Nassau County Health Department is monitoring the patient on a daily basis.

The individual has not been involved in patient care activities since June 2, 2003, when she was reported to have had unprotected contact with a patient with suspect SARS. She has had no further contact with patients since that time. All household members who had contact with the individual have been notified. The Nassau County Department of Health will monitor these contacts on a daily basis for signs and symptoms of illness.

In addition, a seventh case of suspect SARS in a 46-year-old female Nassau County resident that occurred in December 2002 was just reported. The individual had traveled to Guangdong Province, China, where she visited a hospital. She developed fever and cough three days later. SARS was not reportable in December 2002. However, since SARS became reportable in mid-March 2003, individuals who had traveled to mainland China as early as November 1, 2002, and had symptoms consistent with suspect SARS are included in the CDC case definition.

Most of the U.S. cases of SARS have occurred among travelers returning to the United States from other parts of the world affected by SARS. However, there has been documented spread to close contacts such as family members and health care workers, both in the United States and worldwide.

Nassau County advises residents who have traveled to areas affected by SARS within the previous 10 days to consult their health care providers should they become ill. These areas are: Toronto, Canada; mainland China; Taiwan; Hong Kong; and Singapore.

The five previously reported suspect cases of SARS in Nassau County involved patients who had traveled abroad.

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