UK's first SARS case confirmed

The first case of SARS in the UK has today been confirmed by the Health Protection Agency (HPA).

Following lab tests, the patient has been informed of their result, however no further details are available due to confidentiality reasons.

The HPA said that no further public health action required as the patient was treated appropriately, has now recovered and there was no evidence of onward transmission to their close contacts.

There are currently four other people on the probable list. Corona virus antibody response testing has been completed on two and one returned a positive and one a negative result.

Since mid-March the HPA’s Central Public Health Laboratory has been carrying out testing on suspected and probable cases of SARS which involves both looking for the more common causes of respiratory infections such as influenza and legionnaires’ disease – so that cases can be discounted - alongside testing for infection with the SARS corona virus.

The Central Public Health Laboratory has been working on corona virus tests as part of an international collaboration coordinated by the World Health Organisation. Definitive blood testing can currently only be achieved 3-4 weeks after a patient has developed symptoms of SARS.

Dr Maria Zambon, Head of the Respiratory Virus Unit of the Health Protection Agency said: “As we continue testing, so the number of probable SARS cases changes as we discount people. Since reporting began a total of eight people have been classified as a probable SARS case at one time or another, and the HPA has been carrying out intensive investigations on all these cases.

“Although we now have fewer probable SARS cases in the UK, it is essential that health care professionals and travellers are still aware of the symptoms of SARS as the key to preventing the spread of this disease is recognising cases quickly, isolating patients and following up their contacts."

(GMcG)