Revised 6 Nov 2003
PDF Version (3
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The following National Case Definitions are designed for use during
a Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak, after the re-emergence
of SARS has been verified. Areas with recent local transmission will be
listed and updated as required.
A) CONFIRMED * CASE OF SARS
A person with:
Early clinical presentation of SARS, i.e.:
- Fever (over 38 degrees Celsius) AND cough or breathing difficulty
AND Radiographic evidence consistent with SARS*, i.e.:
- Radiographic evidence of infiltrates consistent with pneumonia or respiratory
distress syndrome (RDS)
AND Laboratory evidence** of SARS-associated coronavirus
(SARS-CoV) infection, i.e.:
OR
A deceased person with:
A History of early clinical presentation of SARS, i.e.:
- Fever AND cough or difficulty breathing resulting in death
AND Autopsy findings consistent with SARS, i.e.:
- Evidence of pneumonia or RDS without an alternate identifiable cause
AND Laboratory evidence** of SARS coronavirus infection,
i.e.:
B) PROBABLE CASE OF SARS
A person with:
Early clinical presentation of SARS, i.e.:
- Fever (over 38 degrees Celsius) AND cough or breathing difficulty
AND Radiographic evidence consistent with SARS, i.e.:
- Radiographic evidence of infiltrates consistent with pneumonia or respiratory
distress syndrome (RDS)
AND Epidemiologically linked to a person or place linked
to SARS, i.e.:
- Close contact*** with a confirmed SARS case, within 10 days of onset
of symptoms.
OR
- Close contact with a symptomatic person who has laboratory evidence
of SARS-CoV infection, within 10 days of onset of symptoms.
OR
- Residence, recent travel or visit to an “Area with recent local
transmission of SARS”**** within the 10 days prior to onset of symptoms OR close
contact (including health care providers) with a probable case who has
been to an “Area with recent local transmission of SARS” within
the 10 days prior to onset of symptoms.
OR
A deceased person with:
A history of early clinical presentation of SARS, i.e.:
- Fever AND cough or difficulty breathing resulting in death
AND Autopsy findings consistent with SARS, i.e.:
- Consistent with the pathology of RDS without an identifiable cause
AND Epidemiologically linked to a person or place linked
to SARS, i.e.:
- Close contact with a confirmed SARS case, within 10 days of onset of
symptoms.
OR
- Close contact with a symptomatic person who has laboratory evidence
of SARS-CoV infection, within 10 days of onset of symptoms.
OR
- Residence, recent travel or visit to an “Area with recent local
transmission of SARS”**** within the 10 days prior to onset of symptoms OR close
contact (including health care providers) with a probable case who has
been to an “Area with recent local transmission of SARS” within
the 10 days prior to onset of symptoms.
OR
A deceased person with:
A history of early clinical presentation of SARS, i.e.:
- Fever AND cough or difficulty breathing resulting in death
AND Laboratory evidence** of SARS coronavirus infection,
i.e.:
TABLE 1: Areas with recent local transmission of SARS
Current† |
Dates Affected |
International - No current areas with recent local transmission |
n/a |
Canada - No current areas with recent local transmission |
n/a |
† Areas are listed as “affected” based on having recent
local transmission as per the WHO definition (see link below). Some modification
of the list has been made as per Canadian surveillance objectives/recommendations
of the Canadian Respiratory Infection Surveillance Committee.
For further details and updates see: <http://www.who.int/csr/sars/areas/en/>
* During the outbreak period, persons without x-ray changes (i.e. those
who are not severely ill) may have laboratory evidence of SARS Coronavirus
(SARS-CoV) infection if tested as part of an outbreak. These individuals
will be considered as “confirmed SARS-CoV infections”, while
not meeting the clinical criteria for confirmed cases of “Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)”.
** Refer to CPHLN: Laboratory
Evidence of SARS-CoV infection in the SARS Post-Outbreak Period. Laboratory
results must be verified by a provincial Public Health Laboratory and/or
the National Microbiology Laboratory
*** Close contact means having cared for, lived with or had face-to-face
(within 1 metre) contact with, or having had direct contact with respiratory
secretions and/or body fluids of a person with SARS.
**** “Areas with recent local transmission” of SARS (see Table 1)