JOPLIN, MO. ? Health officials are investigating three new suspected cases of SARS in southwest Missouri, the first in the state in more than two months.

The three individuals in Jasper County have voluntarily isolated themselves in their homes while follow-up tests are performed to confirm or deny that their illnesses are SARS. Two of the cases emerged early last week, with the third appearing Friday.

One of the individuals in the initial case, which was reported May 30, spent about two days in the hospital, Jasper County Health Department director Tony Moehr said.

Moehr said the initial two cases were individuals living in the same house. The third person had close contact with one of the original two.

Moehr would not reveal any other identifying information, other than to say the people were not from Joplin, a city of about 45,000 people and home to about 39 percent of the county’s population.

The three individuals bring Missouri’s suspected case total to four. A St. Louis area resident also is awaiting test results.

The blood tests, which are sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, require at least 22 days before they can be determined as positive or negative. However, results can take longer because of the volume of testing at the CDC.

To be characterized as a suspected case, an individual must have a fever of 100.4 degrees or higher and a mild to severe respiratory illness — symptoms Moehr said were common with many diseases, including the common cold. But the individual must also have traveled or had close contact with a person who had traveled within the last 10 days to one of five areas where SARS has been found — Toronto, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan or mainland China.

“That travel aspect really is the key,” Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services spokesman Brian Quinn said.

The initial suspected case in Jasper County came into contact with an individual who was ill and who had been in Toronto, Moehr said. It was uncertain whether the individual in Toronto had SARS or another disease.

Officials have treated the cases as though they were SARS, he said.

“Even if it turns out to be SARS, I don’t think it’s something that should have a tremendous impact on the community,” Moehr said.

Quinn said that Missourians should not panic, although they should be sensitive to the disease’s presence and aware of their own health. Those who have traveled to the target areas or been in close contact with someone who has should take extra care.