AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Tuesday, June 10, 2003
The first probable case of severe acute respiratory syndrome in Texas has been reported in a Travis County man who traveled to Toronto in mid-May and became ill later that month after returning home.
The man was not hospitalized and is in isolation at home, where he is recovering well, state and local health officials said.
"He doesn't have any fever, and he doesn't have any cough left," said Bob Flocke, a spokesman for the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department. "He's got to stay home 10 days after the symptoms go away" so he doesn't infect others.
Flocke said the man is 38 but declined to release any other identifying information.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classified the case as probable Friday evening, Flocke said.
Eight other possible SARS cases in Texas during the past three months have been classified as suspect, including that of a Travis County man who traveled to China. The key difference is that in probable cases, the victims also develop pneumonia and are believed to be more likely to have SARS.
The eight suspected victims have recovered, state health officials said.
"The most important thing is to get these people isolated quickly," Flocke said. The man with the probable case is cooperative and has not infected anyone else, he said.
As of Friday, the CDC had identified 68 probable cases in the United States and 311 suspect cases. No one has died of SARS in the United States, but worldwide, 784 people have died, according to the World Health Organization. The health organization reported 8,421 probable SARS cases worldwide Monday.
The CDC reinstated a travel alert for Toronto on May 23 after reports of five new probable SARS cases. It had lifted the alert on May 20 because more than 30 days had elapsed since the date of symptom onset in the last case. An alert does not advise against travel but tells travelers a health concern exists and they should take precautions.
maroser@statesman.com; 445-3619