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May 15, 2003 St. Louis (CHI)- Everything is continuing with the processing of applications and dossiers at CCAA as usual. The only change is that they will postpone mailing out referrals and travel approval briefly. While this means a longer wait for families who were anticipating a referral ‘any day’, there is absolutely no reason to worry. The Issuance of travel approvals will be delayed as of May 15th . However any travel approval issued before May 15th will be valid for 6 months as opposed to 3 months. The CCAA put out a statement that this action was taken to limit travel within China temporarily as the Government tries to slow the spread of SARS.
For all waiting families, it is important with these delays to keep a close eye on your INS I-171H expiration date. The China team recommends that it is valid for at least 3 months at the time of referral. As for the two groups of CHI families set to travel next week, May 21 and May 23rd, it appears we are still set to go. We are emailing and calling families of changes that are affecting travel dates and referrals. Official CCAA
statement: 3. The foreign adopters who have already received the Notice of Coming to China for Adoption should try their best to put off their schedule of traveling to China to do the adoption registration. In case that the settled travel schedule cannot be changed, the adoption organization involved should contact the local adoption registry office in advance, and help the adopters to travel after the reservation be made. 4. For the foreigners working in China, who have already submitted their adoption application documents, the cases will be processing as usual. 5. The receiving of the application documents of the adopters and the other relevant work keep on going as usual in the CCAA. 6. The time for the signing and issuing of the Notice of Coming to China for Adoption and the mailing of the Letter of Seeking Confirmation for Adopters will be fixed in a due course in light of the situation for the control of the epidemic of SARs. The CCAA will make a timing publication on its web-site, please keep an eye on it. The web-site of the CCAA is www.china-ccaa.org. The China Center of Adoption Affairs
May 5, 2003 There have been some news reports that
certain agencies have had to cancel adoption trips because their
contacts in China are worried that they can not finalize the
process. We continue to scan the web and stay in contact with the Children’s Hope International staff in China to keep you up-to-date on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. Any new information on travel is given in email updates to families on the travel list. This web page will keep you informed on any changes at CCAA and possible delays in future travel. There is an article in the New York Times on the proper surgical mask to purchase. It is called the N95. Go to www.nytimes.com then click on the most recent SARS story. Next to the article on the right hand side there should be a box that reads, “SARS Epidemic, complete coverage”. Click on that box then scroll down to the article titled, “How Masks Work”. For official information on SARS, click on to, www.cdc.gov , or, www.who.int . April
16, 2003 CHI Families Are Preparing to Travel St. Louis (CHI)-We continue to scan the web and stay in contact with the Children’s Hope International staff in China to keep you up-to-date on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. At the Centers for Disease Control website, www.cdc.gov , there is a good comprehensive article from April 16th, titled, “Frequently Asked Questions”. If you click on that story, you will find answers to many of your questions regarding SARS. This report gives the most current travel advice and a detailed list of what is known about SARS. Also click onto the World Health Organization website, www.who.int , for additional medical information. There is also a good article featuring two CHI families in the April 16, St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Jennifer & Barry Petrowsky, who just returned from China with 10-month-old Emma Grace, as well as Lisa & Mike Wild, who will travel in the middle of May to adopt 6 ½ month old, Ning Yu Lian, are quoted in the Post. www.stltoday.com April
4, 2003
DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) has been working closely with the
World Health Organization (WHO) to investigate cases of Severe
Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). SARS is a respiratory illness
that has recently been reported in Asia, North America, and
Europe. The illness usually begins with a fever (measured
temperature greater than 100.4°F [>38.0°C]). The fever is
sometimes associated with chills or other symptoms, including
headache, general feeling CDC has issued a travel advisory suggesting that people planning elective or nonessential travel to mainland China; Hong Kong; Singapore; and Hanoi, Vietnam, may wish to postpone their trips until further notice. You may be so close to completing the adoption process that delay is not feasible or desirable. If you decide to go ahead with your travel to an area with SARS, please keep the following guidelines in mind. Before you leave: · Assemble a travel health kit containing basic first aid and medical supplies. Be sure to include a thermometer, household disinfectant, a supply of surgical masks, disposable gloves and alcohol-based hand rubs for hand hygiene. · Inform yourself and others who may be traveling with you about SARS. For information about this illness, see http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/.
· Be
sure you are up to date with all your shots, and see your
health-care provider at least 4-6 weeks before travel · You may wish to check your health insurance plan or get additional insurance that covers medical evacuation in the event of illness. Information about medical evacuation services can be found at http://www.travel.state.gov/medical.html. · Identify in-country health-care resources in advance of your trip. While you are in an area with SARS:
· Persons
with SARS pose a risk of transmission to close personal contacts
and health care personnel in close If you think you or a family member has SARS or symptoms compatible with SARS: · If you or a family member becomes ill with fever and respiratory symptoms (for example, cough or shortness of breath), a visit to a health-care provider is strongly recommended. The nearest U.S. Embassy or Consular Office can help you find a provider in the area. Again, you are encouraged to identify these resources in advance. Do not travel while sick and limit your contact with others as much as possible to help prevent the spread of any infectious illness you may have. · Each person with SARS or an illness compatible with SARS should be advised to cover his or her mouth and nose with a facial tissue when coughing or sneezing. If possible, the person should wear a surgical mask during close contact with uninfected persons to prevent spread of infectious droplets. If he/she is unable to wear a surgical mask, family members should wear surgical masks when in close contact with the person who is ill.
·
Use of disposable gloves should be
considered for any direct contact with body fluids of a person
with SARS. However, gloves are not intended to replace
proper hand hygiene. Immediately after activities
involving contact with body fluids, gloves should be removed and
discarded and hands should be cleaned. Gloves must · All family members staying with a person with SARS should carefully follow recommendations for hand hygiene (e.g., frequent hand washing or use of alcohol-based hand rubs), particularly after contact with body fluids (e.g., respiratory secretions, urine, or feces). · Persons with SARS should avoid sharing eating utensils, towels, and bedding with others, although these items can be used by others after routine cleaning, such as washing or laundering with soap and hot water. · Environmental surfaces (e.g., toilets, sinks) soiled by body fluids should be cleaned with a household disinfectant according to manufacturer’s instructions; gloves should be worn during this activity. · Other family members staying with a person with SARS do not need to restrict their outside activities unless they develop symptoms of SARS, such as a fever or respiratory illness. After your return: · Families returning from one of the affected areas should monitor their health for at least 10 days. Any family member who becomes ill with fever or respiratory symptoms during this period should consult a health-care provider and tell him or her about their recent travel. · Family members or other close contacts of person with SARS who develop fever or respiratory symptoms should seek healthcare evaluation. When possible, in advance of the evaluation, healthcare providers should be informed that the individual is a close contact of a person with SARS. Family members or other close contacts with symptoms of SARS should follow the same precautions recommended for person with SARS.
April 3, 2003
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March 20, 2003
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SARS (Severe Acute Respitory Syndrome): We suggest families to consult with their doctors and be extra careful when they are overseas, but we are not suggesting that families delay their adoption trip because of this.
The SARS (Severe Acute Respitory Syndrome) virus has been found in some Provinces in China, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Canada, Philippines, Indonesia, New York and Germany.
So far, none of our families, assigned or waiting children have reported to be affected by this virus. There is not a traveler's advisory as of yet. To stay up on current events regarding this health issue, please check the website for the Center for Disease Control at www.cdc.gov <http://www.cdc.gov> and the website for the World Health Organization at www.who.int <http://www.who.int> . As reported by the World Health Organization, as of March 15th, the majority of the cases have occurred in people who have had very close contact with other cases and over 90% have occurred in health care workers. Please take all precautionary measures outlined in the travel guide under the section titled: Travelers visiting underdeveloped areas should take the following precautions.
March
16,
2003 SARS was first recognised on the 26 February 2003 in Hanoi, Viet Nam. The causative agent has yet to be identified. The main symptoms and signs include high fever (>38 degrees C), cough, shortness of breath or breathing difficulties (see Case definitions for Surveillance of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ). A proportion of patients with SARS develop severe pneumonia; some of whom have needed ventilator support. As of 15 March, four deaths have been reported. As of 15 March the majority of cases have occurred in people who have had very close contact with other cases and over 90% of cases have occurred in health care workers. The mode of transmission and the causative agent have yet to be determined. Aerosol and/or droplet spread is possible as is transmission from body fluids. Respiratory isolation, strict respiratory and mucosal barrier nursing are recommended for cases. Cases should be treated as clinically indicated. (see below for further details). -
Hospital Infection Control Guidance An epidemic of atypical pneumonia had previously been reported by the Chinese government starting in November 2002 in Guangdong Province. This epidemic is reported to be under control. Hanoi, Viet Nam On 5 March, seven health care workers who had cared for the index case also became ill (high fever, myalgia, headache and less often sore throat). The onset of illness ranged from 4 to 7 days after admission of the index case. As of 15 March, 43 cases have been reported in Viet Nam. At least five of these patients are currently requiring ventilator support. Two deaths have occurred. With the exception of one case (the son of a health care worker) all cases to date have had direct contact with the hospital where the index case had first received treatment. Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of
China As of 15 March, over 100 reported cases have been hospitalised, at least two of whom are receiving ventilatory support. One death (index case from Viet Nam) has been reported. Singapore All 16 cases are reported to be in a stable condition and are being cared for in isolation. Thailand Canada Philippines and Indonesia Unconfirmed reports of a single case in Indonesia were received on the 15 March. However further reports have confirmed that this person does not fulfill the case definition. As of 16 March, there are therefore no reported cases in Indonesia. New York, USA – Frankfurt, Germany Laboratory Investigation International Response WHO/ Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network team of epidemiologists, case management, infection control experts and laboratory experts is assisting the Vietnamese health authorities. The following organisations are contributing personnel and materials to the Hanoi team:
Bilateral assistance has also been mobilised from France and Japan. WHO is providing epidemiological support to health authorities in Hong Kong. Travel Advice Further Information |
