SARS – BEPAST email update, March 14 2003
Subject: Looking in WHC-Medstar hospitals now and at 3 airports
Two other key things I would suggest about the WHO alert are:
1. See if we already have anyone in WHC or Medstar Hospitals who is from that part of Asia and has an unexplained respiratory disease or has recently passed away in one of our hospitals. In terms of priority I would check with:
a. The ID/Infection Control group
b. The ICU's (Med, Surg, and Cardiac)
c. Pathology (and check the autopsy recordbook)
d. Is anyone from the ED out sick with a "flu-like" illness and can Insight tell you if anyone has been seen in the ED after travel from Asia for respiratory complaints
2. Alert the medical personnel/clinics at the 3 major regional airports in DC (Nat'l), VA (Dulles), and MD (BWI). I assume this is a Public Health function and I included Depts of Public Health in DC, VA, and Maryland in yesterday's e-mail WHO alert.
Since the smallpox vaccinations are delayed again until March 21st, I will not be in DC this Monday for the 10 am BT Task force meeting. If you are able to connect me by phone, as you tried before, then I could still participate in real time.
Daniel R. Lucey, MD, MPH
Director, Center for Biologic Counterterrorism & emerging Diseases
Washington Hospital Center
cell: 614-226-2643