The daily news coverage about the spread of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) has raised public anxiety, and spawned many website and e-mail promotions for products that claim to prevent, treat or cure the disease. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, cautions consumers to be wary of all promotions related to SARS.

Because much is still unknown about the specific virus thought to cause SARS, the FTC says consumers should be skeptical of claims that products like pills, air filtration devices, and cleaning agents can kill or eliminate the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), major consumer health agencies, say the best protection right now is to know the basic facts about SARS, practice good personal hygiene, and visit the CDC’s Web site for travel information and guidance.

Federal health and legal authorities say consumers should be wary of SARS prevention, treatment, or cure claims for any products. They suggest that if and when consumers see advertisements touting prevention, treatment or cure claims for SARS, they should ask themselves one key question: if a medical breakthrough involving SARS has occurred, would they be hearing about it for the first time through an advertisement or sales pitch?

Although health authorities are searching for effective vaccines and treatment drugs, currently, no products are known to protect against, treat, or cure the virus thought to cause SARS. In addition, no dietary supplements claiming to prevent, treat, or cure SARS have yet been tested against the virus.

Know The Facts
SARS appears to spread mainly by cough or sneeze, allowing droplets containing infectious virus to reach the respiratory tract of people close by. SARS also may be spread by touching objects contaminated with infectious droplets and then touching one’s eye(s), nose, or mouth.

Symptoms of SARS usually begin with a fever of more than100.4EF (38.0EC). Other symptoms may include headache, overall discomfort, and body aches. Some people may experience mild respiratory symptoms. After two to seven days, a SARS patient may develop a dry cough and have trouble breathing.

Keep Your Hands Clean
Public health authorities advise that basic personal hygiene is the best protection against infection. They add that the best way to protect against SARS is frequent and thorough hand washing with soap and water; waterless alcohol-based hand sanitizers also can be used. Health authorities currently do not recommend the use of masks, gloves, or similar gear to prevent SARS when healthy people are in public areas. But the CDC does recommend that people with SARS should wear a surgical mask during close contact with uninfected people (for example, household members) to prevent the spread of infectious droplets.

Check Travel Advisories for Affected Areas
To lower your risk of infection, the CDC suggests avoiding travel to those areas for which CDC has issued a travel advisory. The CDC’s travel advisories are on their web site, www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/travel.htm

Seek Medical Attention
If you think you may have SARS symptoms, or if you may have been in direct contact with someone with SARS, consult a health care professional immediately. Only qualified health care professionals should treat SARS symptoms.