Document Type
Article
Journal Title
Emerging Infectious Diseases
Publication Date
2004
Volume
10
Abstract
In response to the emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), the United States established national surveillance using a sensitive case definition incorporating clinical, epidemiologic, and laboratory criteria. Of 1,460 unexplained respiratory illnesses reported by state and local health departments to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from March 17 to July 30, 2003, a total of 398 (27%) met clinical and epidemiologic SARS case criteria. Of these, 72 (18%) were probable cases with radiographic evidence of pneumonia. Eight (2%) were laboratory-confirmed SARS-coronavirus (SARS-CoV) infections, 206 (52%) were SARS-CoV negative, and 184 (46%) had undetermined SARS-CoV status because of missing convalescent-phase serum specimens. Thirty-one percent (124/398) of case-patients were hospitalized; none died. Travel was the most common epidemiologic link (329/398, 83%), and mainland China was the affected area most commonly visited. One case of possible household transmission was reported, and no laboratory-confirmed infections occurred among healthcare workers. Successes and limitations of this emergency surveillance can guide preparations for future outbreaks of SARS or respiratory diseases of unknown etiology.
DOI Link
ISSN
1080-6040
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication 1.0 License.
Rights
U.S. Government Work
Recommended Citation
Schrag, Stephanie J.; Brooks, John T.; Van Beneden, Chris; Parashar, Umesh D.; Griffin, Patricia M.; Anderson, Larry J.; Bellini, William J.; Benson, Robert F.; Erdman, Dean D.; Klimov, Alexander; Ksiazek, Thomas G.; Peret, Teresa C. T.; Talkington, Deborah F.; Thacker, W. Lanier; Tondella, Maria L.; Sampson, Jacquelyn S.; Hightower, Allen W.; Nordenberg, Dale F.; Plikaytis, Brian D.; Khan, Ali S.; Rosenstein, Nancy E.; Treadwell, Tracee A.; Whitney, Cynthia G.; Fiore, Anthony E.; Durant, Tonji M.; Perz, Joseph F.; Wasley, Annemarie; Feikin, Daniel; Herndon, Joy L.; Bower, William A.; Klibourn, Barbara W.; Levy, Deborah A.; Coronado, Victor G.; Buffington, Joanna; Dykewicz, Clare A.; Khabbaz, Rima F.; and Chamberland, Mary E., "SARS Surveillance During Emergency Public Health Response, United States, March-July 2003" (2004). Journal Articles: Epidemiology. 93.
https://digitalcommons.unmc.edu/coph_epidem_articles/93