CDC Specialist in Taiwan May Have SARS
Infection Control Expert and CDC Coworkers Headed Back to U.S.
May 22, 2003 -- A CDC physician who was sent to Taiwan to help local health officials improve infection control measures and prevent the spread of SARS (sudden acute respiratory syndrome) is now on his way back to the U.S. after developing symptoms of the disease. Three other CDC scientists who were in close contact with the physician are also being recalled as a precaution.
"This is a sobering situation for all of us," says CDC director Julie Gerberding, MD, in a briefing today. "SARS is a problem for everyone, not just people in Asia."
"The bottom line is that one member of the CDC delegation in Taiwan has developed symptoms that are indications for isolation, and three other CDC scientists are in quarantine. They are also on their way home," says Gerberding. "We'll be real glad when they get here."
The CDC physician came down with a fever on Monday after visiting local hospitals and assessing infection control measures and later developed a cough, which fits the definition for a suspected SARS case. Gerberding says he did not directly care for any SARS patients, but was in Taipei to provide technical support on infection control to the health ministry.
Gerberding says it still is possible that the CDC epidemiologist is ill with something other than SARS, but the agency is bringing him back to the U.S. for further evaluation and testing at an Atlanta-area hospital.
Since April 22, the number of new SARS cases in Taiwan has grown rapidly, and the disease is being spread primarily in hospitals. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Taiwan today reported a record high of 60 new SARS cases and eight deaths, which brings its total to 483 probable SARS cases and 60 deaths since the epidemic began.
Although Taiwan had initial success in containing SARS early in the epidemic, a new CDC report shows that lapses in infection control measures during mid-April allowed one hospital employee with SARS to potentially expose 10,000 patients and visitors and 930 staff members at a Taipei hospital.