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EMBARGO: NOT FOR RELEASE UNTIL 9:00 AM (EDT) AUGUST 7, 2003

SARS – THE MEDICAL RESPONSE AND PUBLIC HEALTH CHALLENGE

Communicating the Risks to a Fearful Public

TORONTO — Health experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Toronto will explore what is known about the virus that causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), the course of the disease and why the epidemic caused so much fear and anxiety at a symposium presented at the 111th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association (APA) in Toronto.

A panel of medical, psychological and public health professionals will discuss the SARS outbreak in Toronto and its affect on health services, how it was effectively contained and what public health officials faced with communicating uncertain risks to a frighten public.

The panelists include:

Arthur P. Liang, M.D., M.P.H., Food Safety Office, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, SARS: A Public Health Overview. Dr. Liang will discuss what is known about the virus, the clinical disease and the epidemiology of SARS.

Barbara A. Govert, M.S., National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, A Public Health Model for Mitigating Stigma During the SARS Outbreak. Ms. Govert will examine CDC’s efforts to combat the fear and stigma associated with SARS, especially with Asian Pacific Islanders, healthcare workers, airline personnel and families of SARS patients.

Geoffrey T. Fong, Ph.D., University of Waterloo, SARS: An Example of the Challenges of Communicating Novel and Uncertain Risks to the Public. Dr. Fong will present research on the effects of social context and normative influences on decision-making and how the Asian Canadians have been treated during the SARS outbreak and the implications for stereotyping and prejudice.

Gerry Goldberg, Ph.D., Toronto Emergency Medical Services, SARS: Its Psycho-Social Impact Upon Emergency Medical Service. Dr. Goldberg will review how the Toronto EMS handled being exposed to SARS and working while under quarantine.

Esther R. Greenglass, Ph.D., York University, Stressful Effects of SARS: Coping with the Threat of Infection. Dr. Greenglass will discuss the stressful effects of SARS and how individuals deal with the threat and their coping strategies.

Presentation: “SARS: Medical, Psychological and Health Communication Perspectives,” Special Session, 9:00 – 10:50 AM, August 7, 2003, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, South Building, Meeting Room Level, Meeting Room 701B

Contact information:

Arthur P. Liang, MD, MPH
Director, Food Safety Office
National Center for Infectious Diseases
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road, Mailstop G24
Atlanta, GA 30333
Phone: (404) 639-2213

Barbara A. Govert, M.S.
Chief, Health Communications Activity
National Center for Infectious Diseases
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road, Mailstop A49
Atlanta, GA 30333
Phone: (404) 371-5381

Geoffrey T. Fong, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Psychology
University of Waterloo
200 University Avenue West
Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1 Canada
Voice: (519) 888-4567,x3597(lab,voice mail)
FAX: (519) 746-8631

Gerry Goldberg, Ph.D.
Staff Psychologist
Toronto Emergency Medical Services
4330 Dufferin Street
Toronto, Ontario
M3H 5R9
Phone: (416) 392-2085

Esther R. Greenglass, Ph.D.
Department of Psychology
Rm 233 Bsb
4700 Keele Street
York University
Toronto, Ontario
Canada M3J1P3
Phone: (416) 736-5120
fax: (416) 736 5814

The American Psychological Association (APA), in Washington, DC, is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States and is the world’s largest association of psychologists. APA’s membership includes more than 150,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 53 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance psychology as a science, as a profession and as a means of promoting health, education and human welfare.

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