As of April 29, 14 possible cases have been identified in Santa Clara County. Only one case has been confirmed. All cases involve people who have traveled to affected areas. There are about 198 suspected cases of SARS and 38 probable cases in the United States.

"There hasn't been any community transmission so there isn't a real urgency," says Teresa Chagoya, spokeswoman for the county's public health department. "It is pretty much contained."

Since the city seems to be free of SARS, the city government hasn't taken an active role in educating the residents.

"Educating the public about public health is a county issue," says city spokesman John Pilger. "It is not up to the city to do the education work. When there is a public health problem, we rely on health experts."

Local schools have followed the guidelines suggested by the county's health officials. Schools are encouraged to track students at risk for SARS, refer students for medical evaluations, share students' health status with the public health department and determine when isolation for potentially infectious students may be required.

Since SARS has not been reported in schools or other public places in the United States, health officials say there is no need to keep children from schools or adults from going to work if they are not sick. Martha Kanter, president of De Anza College, says there have been no SARS cases reported at De Anza.

According to the public health department, those considered at risk for SARS have traveled to Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Taiwan, Hanoi in Vietnam or Toronto in Canada in the previous 10 days; their temperature is greater than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, and they have shown symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and difficulty breathing.

People who are found to be at risk for SARS should be advised to watch out for symptoms for 10 days following exposure. People at risk for SARS who develop fever or symptoms of respiratory illness should be removed from contact with other people and immediately referred to a physician for medical evaluation and reported to the public health department. They should be allowed to return to schools or public settings when the symptoms don't progress.

Health officials say SARS can only be spread by someone who is sick with the disease. People who are not sick but may have been exposed or traveled to affected areas probably cannot spread SARS.

For more information call the county's public health information line at 408.885.3980 or visit www.sccphd.org.