SARS OUTBREAK

Chapter Two: Infection Control (184 KB): The Walker Report
Excerpt:“The SARS outbreak highlighted a problem that has received far too little attention in the past decade, despite being raised as far back as December 1994 at the Lac Tremblant Declaration.1 The problem is infectious disease control. Prior to the outbreak, many people within different parts of the healthcare sector, as well as the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, had a false sense of security with respect to infectious disease control. ”
Classes of Microorganisms Ranked in Descending Order from Least to Most Susceptible to Chemical Disinfectants (118 KB): Laboratory Centre for Disease Control, Health Canada
The article highlights which level of disinfection should be used against spores, mycobacteria, fungi, vegetative bacteria, and enveloped viruses
Directive to all Ontario Non-Acute Care Facilities Under Outbreak Conditions (151 KB): Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
This document practices directs non-acute care facilities to undertake the following practices in the event of an outbreak of SARS. It applies to health care workers and settings that provide direct clinical services to patients or clients in non-acute care facilities. Non-acute care facilities include: Complex Continuing Care Hospitals, Rehabilitation Hospitals, Long-Term Care Facilities, Private Hospitals, Specialty Hospitals, Psychiatric Hospitals, Children’s Treatment Centres and indepe
Excerpt:“Hospital grade disinfectants that may be used include stabilized accelerated hydrogen peroxide products...”
FACT SHEET - Basic Information About SARS: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Frequently Asked Questions from Paramedics (73 KB): Toronto Works & Emergency Services
Health Canada’s Preparedness for and Response to Respiratory Infections Season and the Possible Re-emergence of SAR, Fall/Winter 2003-04 as of Nov 19/03 (100 KB): Health Canada
Excerpt:“The importance of sustained commitment to effectively managing infectious diseases that threaten the health of populations is clear. Events of the past 12 months have reinforced some of the well-established public health frameworks within the federal as well as provincial and territorial systems but have also served to strengthen the resolve of public health administrators and front line workers to keep watch, act quickly and stay in touch with each other, especially in the face of emerging respiratory infections. ”
Infection control and anesthesia: lessons learned from the Toronto SARS outbreak: Canadian Journal of Anesthesia
Protocols and Guidelines - Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS): Mount Sinai Hospital
Public Health Management of Cases and Clusters of Severe Respiratory Illness (SRI) in the SARS Post- Outbreak Period, Version 1: November 6, 2003 (128 KB): Health Canada
The purpose of this document is to provide baseline national recommendations for the public health management of specific scenarios or "alerts" identified through enhanced surveillance for severe respiratory illness (SRI) in the SARS post-outbreak period (See "Surveillance for Severe or Emerging Respiratory Infection in the SARS Post-Outbreak Period" http://www.sars.gc.ca/ ). If SARS re-emerges then it is expected that the guidelines referring to the SARS "outbreak period" will become the approp
S.A.R.S. - Questions and Answers (June 20, 2003) (79 KB): Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) Outbreak Period (77 KB): Health Canada
SARS Infection Control and Exposure Management: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
SARS outbreak in the Greater Toronto Area: the emergency department experience (71 KB): Canadian Medical Association
Excerpt:“We outline the process successfully followed by 4 Toronto emergency departments (at Mount Sinai Hospital, North York General Hospital, Sunnybrook and Women’s College Health Sciences Centre and the Hospital for Sick Children) involved in the assessment and treatment of 276 suspect and probable SARS cases... ”
SARS Update for March 25, 2003 (57 KB): Peter Macintyre, Manager, Community Safeguard Services
Excerpt:“There are now three Toronto paramedics in hospital being treated for what appears to be SARS. Only one of them is considered to be a probable case. The other two are suspected cases only. At the request of the family of one of the involved medics, we can state that he is feeling much better, his fever has broken, and despite rumours to the contrary, has not been intubated, nor has he suffered a cardiac arrest. Our thoughts are with all three paramedics and their families. ”
Studies of SARS Virus Survival (128 KB): World Health Organization (WHO)
Scientists in the WHO network of collaborating laboratories yesterday reported results of the first scientific studies designed to determine the survival time of the SARS virus in different environmental media
Surveillance for Severe or Emerging Respiratory Infections in the SARS Post-Outbreak Period, Revised November 19, 2003 (123 KB): Health Canada
On 14 August 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) developed guidelines for Alert, verification and public health management of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in the SARS post-outbreak period (see http://www.who.int/csr/sars/postoutbreak/en/). On 10 and 11 September 2003, Health Canada hosted an international meeting of experts to discuss enhanced surveillance and case definitions. At the meeting it was agreed that individual countries, particularly developed countries, need to ada
The Significance of a General Virucide Claim Based Upon the Efficacy Against the Polio Virus (44 KB): Therapeutics Products Programme Guidelines: Disinfectant Drugs
Excerpt:“If you do not demonstrate performance against the Polio Virus it is then required that you test and demonstrate performance against specific pathogens (product sold under Virox 5, Percept, Accel, Peroxigard).” pg. 2
Toronto's Dance With SARS (60 KB): Paul Webber
Excerpt:“Several days after her Continental Airlines flight from Hong Kong touched down in Toronto, family matriarch Kwan Sui-Chu died quietly from flu-like symptoms at her suburban home. She had not been to a hospital, and once symptomatic, she had not circulated in the general population - her cause of death was listed as "heart attack." "Nobody knew about SARS at the time; her death did not trigger anything in the coroner’s mind," said Dr. Jim Cairns, Ontario’s deputy chief coroner. If SARS had been limited to Sui-Chu, Toronto’s first SARS outbreak might never have happened. Unfortunately, it wasn’t limited, and through a series of events, it was about to get legs. ”
Toronto's Dance With SARS (60 KB): Paul Webber
Excerpt:“Several days after her Continental Airlines flight from Hong Kong touched down in Toronto, family matriarch Kwan Sui-Chu died quietly from flu-like symptoms at her suburban home. She had not been to a hospital, and once symptomatic, she had not circulated in the general population - her cause of death was listed as "heart attack." "Nobody knew about SARS at the time; her death did not trigger anything in the coroner’s mind," said Dr. Jim Cairns, Ontario’s deputy chief coroner. If SARS had been limited to Sui-Chu, Toronto’s first SARS outbreak might never have happened. Unfortunately, it wasn’t limited, and through a series of events, it was about to get legs. ”
Training Bulletin, Issue Number 103, Version 1.1 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) (479 KB): Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
Excerpt:“Following the transport of a patient with suspected SARS, EMA's and Paramedics must decontaminate the vehicle, stretcher and any equipment used during the call. It is recommended that Virox-5™, an accelerated hydrogen peroxide base formulation, be used as the disinfectant of choice for this purpose. Studies have concluded that Virox-5™ is over 99% effective in disinfecting surfaces when used according to manufactures specifications. The product is therefore suitable for use as a high level disinfectant and is safer than many other broad-spectrum germicides.” pg. 6
Vessel Sanitation Inspection Report (72 KB): CDC
Virucidal Effectiveness Test: Coronavirus (467 KB): M. Khalid Ijaz, DVM, Ph.D.
Excerpt:“AHP (products sold under Virox 5, Percept, Accel, Peroxigard) passed the Virucidal Effectiveness Test when Coronavirus was exposed to the test material for 5 minutes” pg. 10