Nassau County Health Department announces the second Nassau County resident with a case of SARS. The patient is a 14-year-old male who returned from a four-day stay in Toronto on April 21, 2003. The patient is currently hospitalized and all appropriate respiratory isolation measures are in effect.

He was not in direct contact with any known cases in Toronto. All household and health care providers who had contact with the patient in Nassau County have been notified, and the CDC is working with Health Canada to notify his Canadian contacts. The Nassau County Department of Health will monitor these contacts on a daily basis for signs and symptoms of illness.

Since the patient has not had any contact with the public since becoming ill, there is little risk to the residents of Nassau County.

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. There have been very few cases as a result of spread to close contacts such as family members and health care workers.

The patient first developed symptoms of a fever and a general feeling of sickness on April 20, 2003, while in Toronto. He and his family returned home on April 21st by private car. He developed a cough on April 22, 2003, got progressively worse and was hospitalized on April 24, 2003 with pneumonia.

To date, there have been no deaths in the U.S. due to SARS. Worldwide, as of April 23, 2003 there have been approximately 251 SARS-related deaths.

Nassau County advises residents who have traveled to areas affected by SARS, including Toronto, 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.