Two New Suspected SARS Cases in Hawaii

<a href=www.khnl.com>News8-NBC Hawai March 31

Printer Friendly Version The state Department of Health reports two new suspected cases of mystery flu-like disease. The Health Department says the two Oahu women were part of a tour group that traveled to Northern China in mid-March. One woman was hospitalized on March 26th but is responding to treatment and is expected to be discharged tomorrow or Wednesday. The other woman did not require hospitalization. State epidemiologist Paul Effler says the department was aware of the two cases earlier but only list them as suspected severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expanded the case definition last Friday to include travel anywhere in China. While there have been no confirmed cases of SARS in Hawaii, Governor Lingle says the state will continue to be vigilant. She says state health officials aren't overly concerned, but they continue to watch for patients showing symptoms of the dangerous respiratory infection that has prompted travel warnings in parts of Asia. Worldwide, about 60 people have died from SARS. Lingle says the state Health Department is in contact with the C-D-C and the World Health Organization and will notify residents immediately if a case of SARS turns up in Hawaii.