Indiana health officials suspect possible SARS case

INDIANAPOLIS -- The state Health Department is investigating a possible case in Indiana of the mysterious flu-like virus that has spread around the world, officials said Tuesday.\nThe person has symptoms of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, and had recently traveled to one of the Asian countries where cases have been most frequent, said Pam Pontones, a state epidemiologist.\nThe patient is recovering at home after receiving medical attention, but Pontones said she could not release information about where the person was from.\nHealth staffers were working to identify close contacts of the patient and contain any possible spread of the disease, Pontones said.\n"We are confident that those who may have been exposed will be identified and the proper preventive measures will be taken to control the spread of this illness," she said.\nLaboratory tests are pending to rule out any other possible causes of the Indiana case, the agency said.\nThe illness has sickened more than 2,600 worldwide and killed about 100 people, mostly in Asian countries. Symptoms include high fever, aches, dry cough and shortness of breath. No cure has been found.\nIn the United States, about 150 cases have been reported in 30 states with no deaths.