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June 6, 2003
Contact: Kerre Fisher, (907) 748-7398

Second Possible SARS Case Reported in Alaska

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Anchorage, Alaska - - - Late yesterday, a patient was admitted to Bartlett Regional Hospital in Juneau with symptoms consistent with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). After carefully reviewing the patient’s symptoms and recent brief travel history through the Toronto airport, state health officials with the Alaska Division of Public Health’s (DPH) Section of Epidemiology determined that the case met the criteria of a probable SARS case.

The patient was flown from Skagway to Juneau Thursday afternoon. She had been aboard a cruise ship and started exhibiting symptoms the night before the ship docked in Skagway. Due to her symptoms and travel history, infection control officials at Bartlett admitted the patient using the hospital’s SARS protocol and procedures. State epidemiologists verified her symptoms, facilitated blood tests, consulted with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and subsequently listed her as a probable SARS case. Initial tests have been negative for influenza (flu). Further testing is in progress.

“We believe there is a very low probability that this patient actually has SARS, but because she meets the CDC case definition, we have listed her as a probable case until another diagnosis rules out the possibility of SARS. In the meantime, our Division of Public Health epidemiologists and public health nurses are working closely with the staff at Bartlett Regional Hospital and the cruise ship to ensure all necessary precautions have been taken to minimize the risk of exposure to others,” said DPH Director Doug Bruce. “Both the hospital and the cruise ship followed their SARS plans from the beginning and we’re confident that there is no risk of exposure to the public.”

There have been no restrictions placed on the continuation of the cruise ship’s itinerary. The only person identified as having direct, unprotected contact with the patient is her traveling companion, who remains with her in Juneau, and has not exhibited any SARS symptoms.


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