How SARS is Treated

by Health Canada

(Page 2 of 2)

At the moment, there is no vaccine or cure for SARS. Patients with SARS receive the same treatment given to any patient with serious pneumonia when the suspected cause of illness is a virus. This may include supportive treatment, such as oxygen, as needed. Scientists around the world are testing various drugs for treating SARS, including antiviral drugs that may be effective against the virus.

SARS and Influenza Vaccinations (Flu Shots)

A flu shot does not offer any protection against SARS. The primary reason to get a flu shot is to protect yourself against health effects from flu. However, flu shots will help to reduce the number of severe cases of flu coming to emergency departments and may help to reduce the number of false alarms about SARS. By reducing the number of suspicious illnesses that need extensive investigation, flu shots could also help ensure that a true outbreak of SARS would be detected more quickly.

Minimizing Your Risk

The following precautions will help to minimize the risk of SARS, not only for you and your family, but also for others:

• wash your hands regularly and thoroughly for at least 20 seconds using soap and warm water
• if traveling, check the Health Canada travel advisories for information about regions affected by SARS
• refrain from donating blood for at least 21 days if you have been in a region outside Canada currently affected by SARS, or have been in a site identified by public health authorities as at-risk for SARS.
• call ahead to your health care provider to seek advice if you feel you have the symptoms of SARS

Above all, remain calm yet alert. Remember, there is no evidence of SARS spreading within the general community in Canada.

Health Canada's Role

The Government of Canada is taking all of the necessary precautions to protect the health and safety of Canadians in the fight against SARS. At Health Canada, there is a high level of activity in the following key areas: surveillance, research, laboratory diagnosis, public health and hospital infection control, travel and emergency response, and communications and public awareness. Some of these activities include:

• surveillance and monitoring
• developing guidelines to assist health services providers
• developing diagnostic tests for SARS
• Quarantine Services at major Canadian international airports
• coordination and collaboration with provincial and territorial partners
• consultation with international partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• research on the SARS virus, vaccines and treatments.

Health Canada has also set up a SARS Web site, and has established a toll-free number so Canadians can get direct answers to their questions about SARS.

About the Author

www.hc-sc.gc.ca
Health Canada is the Federal department responsible for helping Canadians maintain and improve their health, while respecting individual choices and circumstances.