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Boston girl sars list { May 1 2003 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://www2.bostonherald.com/news/local_regional/ap_masars05012003.htmhttp://www2.bostonherald.com/news/local_regional/ap_masars05012003.htm
Trip to Toronto lands girl on SARS list
Associated Press
Thursday, May 1, 2003
BOSTON - A 9-year-old Fall River girl who traveled with her family to Toronto has been removed from school after coming down with SARS-like symptoms, state health officials said Thursday.
The fourth-grader and a 31-year-old Essex County woman were added Thursday to the Department of Public Health's list of possible cases, now at 19.
The girl traveled with her family to Toronto during school vacation last week. Canada has 140 probable cases, mostly in the Toronto area, where all 23 deaths in Canada have occurred.
The family returned Sunday and the girl attended school Monday when she developed a cough, sore throat and fever. She's been home ever since and was not hospitalized.
The elementary school, which state officials would not identify, will not be closed, DPH spokeswoman Roseanne Pawelec said.
Families of classmates have been advised to watch for symptoms over the next 10 days, she said.
The 31-year-old woman is hospitalized with a cough, fever, and chest aches, although she's not seriously ill, Pawelec said.
The woman traveled through Singapore's main airport while returning to the United States on April 25. She was at the airport for 12 hours.
``The hospitalization was seen more as a precaution,'' Pawelec said.
The ``suspect'' cases, including the additions Thursday, now number 17. There are two ``probable'' cases on the state list.
``The general public in Massachusetts is not at risk of contracting SARS,'' Pawelec said. ``This case count list will be reduced dramatically in another couple of weeks when the testing is done.''
While there is no definitive test for severe acute respiratory syndrome, people who have a high fever, respiratory problems and have been in certain parts of Asia during the previous 10 days are considered ``suspect'' cases.
When the cases also show signs of lung damage, they are considered ``probable.''
To date, 41 ``probable'' and 213 ``suspect'' cases have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
There have been no SARS deaths in the United States. More than 390 people have died worldwide, mainly in China, Hong Kong and Toronto, with at least 5,400 cases reported in more than 20 countries.
Copyright 2002 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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