A Freeland man’s recent travel history is the reason local health officials took precautionary measures last weekend to rule out the possibility he had symptoms of SARS.

According to Trish Rose, a spokeswoman for Whidbey General Hospital, the man was transported from Freeland to Coupeville by Whidbey General Hospital paramedics. He was then flown to Providence Everett Medical Center in Everett for treatment and further testing.

Since then, Rose said, SARS has been deemed a stretch to explain the man’s recent illness.

“They feel like it’s a very low chance,” she said.

SARS — or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome — is a viral respiratory illness that first appeared in China in November 2002. Dr. Roger Case, health officer for the Island County Health Department, said the chances the man came into contact with one of the nine known current cases in the world is slim.

“It’s just because of his travel history we’re looking into this,” he said. “Everything that’s happened here has been another type of medical problem entirely.”

Case explained that the Freeland man — whose name and medical specifics are safeguarded by the Health Information Protection Act (HIPA) — suffered from a sudden onset of shortness of breath and chest pain shortly after returning from a trip to Asia. He said the man’s illness was directly related to having been in the sitting position for two days while flying.

“It’s not a contagious problem at all,” Case said.

According to Case, the man had traveled through China and Mongolia when he became ill. He was treated while on his trip for pneumonia and fever, but had been cleared of serious illness and given the OK to travel for his return trip home.

Initial tests conducted at the state’s health department lab show the man has no symptoms of SARS, but Case said the situation was good training for the local medical field.

“It sure captured a lot of people’s attention,” he said. “Thank heavens we had the training that Toronto gave us this year.”

As a precautionary measure, the medical personnel who were involved in the man’s care have been advised of the potential risk of SARS, Case said. Those who were connected with the case were given appropriate guidance and direction in case they come down with an illness within the next few days. Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials recommended personnel who had contact with the patient be monitored for 10 days for fever.

On Monday, Case said Freeland man was recovering well and was expected to be released from the hospital within the next two weeks. Precautionary tests will need to be done in the next three weeks to completely rule out SARS.