Ketchikan hospital deals with two false SARS alarms

ANCHORAGE (AP) Ketchikan General Hospital tested its SARS isolation procedures after two patients showed some SARS virus-like symptoms.

SARS was later ruled out as a diagnosis by a local doctor in conjunction with the Alaska Division of Epidemiology, according to hospital officials.

The patients were released.

The two individuals identified as visitors to Ketchikan arrived at the hospital emergency room early Tuesday morning.

They displayed some of the symptoms of severe acute respiratory syndrome, so the hospital immediately began its new SARS isolation procedures, officials said.

The procedures are part of a SARS policy developed by the hospital, local clinics, Alaska Public Health Department and the travel industry in recent weeks.