Alberta's SARS Response Plan – 2005

Alberta Health and Wellness’ plan to control and contain Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in Alberta is similar to a plan developed for pandemic influenza. This ensures the provincial SARS plan is co-ordinated with federal, municipal, and health authority response.

The provincial SARS plan focuses on five key areas:

1. Surveillance

• Surveillance systems and case definitions are established.
• Physicians report cases to the regional Medical Officer of Health, who forwards the information to the Provincial Health Officer.
• Health authorities handle suspect cases immediately. Public health staff follow up with contact tracing and monitoring.

2. Lab investigation

• Specific tests for SARS may be performed with the agreement of the regional Medical Officer of Health and the Provincial Health Officer.

3. Public health follow-up

• Cases are isolated and treated for the symptoms as appropriate.
• Close contacts are traced and monitored and placed in quarantine if necessary.
• Emergency room triage protocols are in place.
• Health service contingency plans are in place.

4. Infection control

• Regional Health Authorities infection control guidelines were developed based on Health Canada's protocols.

5. Communication

• Health authorities, health professionals, and the public all have and continue to receive specific, updated information on SARS.
• Hospitals have infection control measures in place to prevent the spread of SARS among health care workers.
• Travel advisories will be announced if necessary, by Health Canada.
• Provincial health officials are in frequent contact with Health Canada, their counterparts across Canada, and with Alberta’s regional health authorities. They share information and expertise about SARS.

SARS Contingency Plan

Alberta’s six-phase contingency plan to respond to and contain SARS. Each phase of the plan would be activated if and when the disease escalates and requires each stage of response.

Phase 0 - No SARS cases identified anywhere in the world

Alberta’s strategy for ongoing preparedness and response to SARS during the post-outbreak period (Phase 0) provides specific strategies for surveillance, laboratory investigation and public health measures, based on WHO and Health Canada recommendations.

While the most likely setting to detect the re-emergence of SARS in Canada is the acute care facility, it is highly unlikely that the first case of SARS would re-emerge in Alberta. At this time, Alberta’s surveillance will be focused only on the acute care hospital setting and not community physician’s offices, long-term care facilities.

Phase 1 - Cases or outbreaks occuring outside North America

The province-wide surveillance plan is enhanced to monitor for disease. This re-emergence is communicated to the public and physicians and regional health authorities develop contingency plans for health services to implement protocols for public health follow-up, treatment, laboratory testing and infection control.

Phase 2 - Cases occurring in North America, but not in Alberta

Health officials and the public are informed about the response plan to encourage compliance with public health measures and prevent further spread of the disease.

Phase 3 – Transmission of SARS in in a well-defined setting in Alberta, such as health care facility or household

Surveillance is increased to detect if disease has spread to the larger community. Isolation procedures may extend to larger groups of people who may have had contact with people with disease.

Phase 4 – Community spread within Alberta, not contained

People suspected of having the disease, but with mild symptoms, are instructed on how to care for themselves at home.

Government may close schools or other public facilities to reduce further spread of disease. The Government Emergency Operation Centre may be opened to co-ordinate the larger disaster response. The public is advised to limit personal contact and educated on how to prevent infection.

Phase 5 – Widespread disease across Alberta/Canada

Measures are taken to minimize the spread of disease and limit illness, death and disruption to essential services. Government ensures that health services continue to function properly.

Government could declare a public health emergency under the Public Health Act to ensure Medical Officers of Health can take whatever steps necessary to lessen the impact.

Phase 6 – Recovery

Surveillance is conducted for new cases of the disease. Measures for routine prevention and infection control are implemented. The response plan is evaluated.