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Normah Newsletter - Issue No. 1 /2003

What is SARS and what causes it?

A new type of atypical pneumonia that infects the lungs.
Caused by a virus which is yet to be determined.

How is SARS spread?

Through droplets spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes and droplets are spread to a nearby contact.
A small number of individuals with SARS who are very sick can be infectious when they develop SARS symptoms.

How fast can SARS spread?

From the cases so far, it appears that SARS becomes infectious only after the infected person develops symptoms, first of which is usually the sudden onset of high fever.
A person is not infectious during the incubation period which is about 3 to 7 days, but for some, it may be up to 10 days.

Joan Tan
Nurse Quality
Improvement
Coordinator

The nurse QI Coordinator and the NMSC Quality Consultant, Lilburn Tipton presented a program on SARS as community health education to the Rotary Club Kuching in April.

Winner Versus Loser
The Winner is always a part of the answer;	The Loser is always a part of the problem.
The Winner sees an answer to every problem;	The Loser sees a problem in every answer.
The Winner always has a program;	The Loser always has an excuse.
The Winner says, "It may be difficult but it's possible;"	The Loser says, "It may be possible but it's too difficult".
The Winner says, "Let me do it for you;"	The Loser says, "That's not my job."
By Thai Prime Minister, 2003