McMaster SARS Update

McMaster continues to receive inquiries regarding Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and related restrictions and travel issues. The University’s crisis management team has established a SARS subcommittee to closely monitor related information and provide updates and direction to the McMaster community as appropriate.

There continues to be no cases of SARS in Hamilton. Some individuals have undergone precautionary quarantine measures. Hamilton Health Sciences and other Hamilton hospitals continue to implement the access restrictions and precautions as directed by the provincial government in an effort to avoid further spread of the disease.

SARS Symptoms:

As directed by the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care, if you have any of the following symptoms, please stay at home and call Tele-Health Ontario at 1-866-797-0000 immediately:

• a fever over 38 degrees (C)
• respiratory difficulties including cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• if you've had close contact with anyone diagnosed with SARS or considered as a probable case (‘close contact’ means having cared for, lived with or had face-to-face – within one metre –contact with, or having had direct contact with respiratory secretions and/or body fluids of a person with SARS)
• if there is no other known cause for symptoms you may have
• if you have visited Scarborough Hospital Grace Division, or been in direct contact with anyone who was, since March 16, 2003.

The Tele-Health service is available 24/7 and will provide the assistance of a nurse to help confirm if symptoms are related to SARS. Further information about being in quarantine is provided on the Ministry website at www.health.gov.on.ca

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Access Restrictions:

As a precautionary measure to contain SARS, public and student access to Hamilton Health Sciences and St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton sites has been restricted until further notice. Classes and tutorial sessions have been relocated. Most clinical placements for students have resumed. Students with questions should ask their program or department for details. Click here for classroom relocations. See the Hamilton Health Sciences website for hospital program updates.

International Students:

International students should contact Office of the International Students’ Advisor/Student Exchanges/Work and Study Abroad at ext. 24748 with SARS related questions.

McMaster Employee Inquiries:

Members of the University community who have employment or sick leave questions related to SARS should contact Employee Work Life Support Services, Human Resources Benefits office at ext. 23743.

McMaster employees are also encouraged to contact the Employee Assistance Program provider, The Hurst Place at 905-521-8300 for confidential counseling and support to help with any type of stress or difficulty.

Travel Advisory:

Health Canada has issued travel advisories for several countries. In addition, Health Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care are advising that people who have traveled to Hong Kong or China should monitor their health for symptoms for 10 days upon return to Canada. International visitors to Canada are no longer required to undergo a quarantine after arriving in Canada. Health Canada also recommends that persons planning to travel to the listed countries should defer all travel until further notice. For those who must travel please be aware that all airlines flying to identified countries are implementing extensive precautionary measures to avoid further spread of the SARS disease. Details of the SARS advisories are available on the Health Canada website: www.hc-sc.gc.ca

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For further information about SARS:

McMaster students, staff or faculty who have questions about other issues related to SARS should contact Campus Health Centre at ext. 27700.

McMaster website: www.mcmaster.ca
Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care: www.health.gov.on.ca
Health Canada: www.hc-sc.gc.ca
World Health Organization: www.who.int

SARS hotline: 1-888-668-4636
Tele-Health Ontario: 1-800-454-8302
Hamilton Public Health Office: 905-546-2679 or 1-866-202-1708 website: www.hamilton.ca/phcs/sars

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