Q&A about the impact of SARS on UC Berkeley
| SARS resource center for campus FAQs, guidelines, links and more |
The rapid global spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) has raised concerns about how the UC Berkeley campus is dealing with the threat; here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.
Q. Have there been any suspected cases of SARS on
the Berkeley campus or within the campus community?
A. No. Thus far there have been no cases of SARS or suspected
SARS at UC Berkeley.
Q. How is the campus monitoring the situation?
A. The Chancellor established
a SARS task force to coordinate the overall campus response
to SARS. University Health
Services is monitoring the situation daily, ensuring
that appropriate training and protective measures are
in place, and providing up-to-date
information for the campus, including links to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The
campus is working closely with
local and regional public health experts regarding SARS.
Q. What are the warning signs to look out for with SARS?
A. Risk factors for SARS include recent travel to affected
areas of the world and/or close contact with a SARS patient,
and development of symptoms related to the illness. As
experts continue their investigation, more is being learned
about SARS every day. For the most up-to-date specific
information about SARS symptoms, areas of the world that
are affected, and information about close contact, consult
the CDC’s SARS Web site.
Q. I have seen people wearing masks. What does that mean?
A. There have been no suspected cases of SARS on campus, and
masks are not a cause for alarm. Some people choose to
wear masks to protect themselves from exposure to pollens,
other allergens, colds, flu or SARS. Most hospital emergency
rooms and clinics, including the Tang Center, ask patients
with a cough to wear masks as a routine public health
practice to prevent the spread of influenza, colds, tuberculosis
and SARS.
Q. Are there any travel restrictions or advisories in place
for faculty, staff and students traveling abroad, or for
those planning to visit campus from abroad?
A. The campus task force recommends
following the advice of the CDC regarding travel
advisories and/or travel restrictions. Specific
recommendations for those planning travel to or returning
from affected areas are available. Travelers returning
from affected areas or those who have been exposed to SARS
are asked to monitor themselves closely for 10 days for
signs and symptoms of infection.
Q. What is happening with Education Abroad Program students
in the currently affected areas?
A. University of California EAP officials are closely monitoring
the SARS situation. They have been in close contact with
students already abroad, working with them to address individual
concerns, and providing access to current information from
the CDC. Students scheduled to leave for study abroad this
summer or next fall will be notified in May if there is
any change in program recommendations due to SARS, based
upon the most current information available at that time.
Q. Where do I go if I have questions about SARS? Where do
I go if I may have been exposed and think I have symptoms
of SARS?
A. General information about SARS
is available from the Tang
Center and from
the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention.
If you think you have SARS symptoms (and have either had close contact with a SARS patient or have recently traveled to affected areas), contact your health care provider for advice and recommendations for evaluation. If you are a patient at University Health Services (Tang Center) and need evaluation, contact the Advice Nurse (510/643-7197) or Urgent Care (510/642-3188). Those in the campus community with general questions about SARS should refer to the Web sites above, or call 510/642-1814 for information.
If you do not have a local health care provider, advice and services are available from the City of Berkeley Public Health Department Advice Line (510/981-5300), the Sutter Urgent Care Center (510/204-2750), or the Alta Bates Emergency Room (510/204-4444)
Q. If SARS does become a problem on campus or locally, how
will faculty, staff, and students be alerted?
A. If there is a change in the
situation on campus, look for news to be posted at the
UC Berkeley NewsCenter as soon as information is available.