Table I.

World Health Organization surveillance case definitions for SARS

Suspect case

1.A person presenting after 1 November 2002 with history of: high fever (>38 °C) AND cough or breathing difficulty AND one or more of the following exposures during the 10 days prior to onset of symptoms:

• close contacta with a person who is a suspect or probable case of SARS

• history of travel to an area with recent local transmission of SARS

• residing in an area with recent local transmission of SARS

2.A person with an unexplained acute respiratory illness resulting in death after 1 November 2002, but on whom no autopsy has been performed AND one or more of the following exposures during to 10 days prior to onset of symptoms:

• close contacta with a person who is a suspect or probable case of SARS

• history of travel to an area with recent local transmission of SARS

• residing in an area with recent local transmission of SARS

Probable case

1.A suspect case with radiographic evidence of infiltrates consistent with pneumonia or respiratory distress syndrome on chest X-ray

2.A suspect case of SARS that is positive for SARS-associated coronavirus by one or more assays (polymerase chain reaction; seroconversion; virus isolation)

3.A suspect case with autopsy findings consistent with the pathology of respiratory distress syndrome without an identifiable cause

^aClose contact: having cared for, lived with, or had direct contact with respiratory secretions or body fluids of a suspect or probable case of SARS.