Update: severe acute respiratory syndrome--Toronto,Canada, 2003

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was first recognized in Toronto in a woman who returned from Hong Kong on February 23, 2003 (1). Transmission to other persons resulted subsequently in an outbreak among 257 persons in several Greater Toronto Area (GTA) hospitals. After implementation of provincewide public health measures that included strict infection-control practices, the number of recognized cases of SARS declined substantially, and no cases were detected after April 20. On April 30, the World Health Organization (WHO) lifted a travel advisory issued on April 22 that had recommended limiting travel to Toronto. This report describes a second wave of SARS cases among patients, visitors, and health-care workers (HCWs) that occurred at a Toronto hospital approximately 4 weeks after SARS transmission was thought to have been interrupted. The findings indicate that exposure to hospitalized patients with unrecognized SARS after a provincewide relaxation of strict SARS control measures probably contributed to transmission among HCWs. The investigation underscores the need for monitoring fever and respiratory symptoms in hospitalized patients and visitors, particularly after a decline in the number of reported SARS cases.     

Factors associated with transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome among health-care workers in Singapore

Between 1 and 22 March 2003, a nosocomial outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) occurred at the Communicable Disease Centre in Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, the national treatment and isolation facility for patients with SARS. A case-control study with 36 cases and 50 controls was conducted of factors associated with the transmission of SARS within the hospital. In univariate analysis, contact with respiratory secretions elevated the odds ratio to 6.9 (95 % CI 1.4-34.6, P= 0.02). Protection was conferred by hand washing (OR 0.06, 95% CI 0.007-0.5, P=0.03) and wearing of N95 masks (OR 0.1, 95% CI 0.03-0.4, P=0.001). Use of gloves and gowns had no effect. Multivariate analysis confirmed the strong role of contact with respiratory secretions (adjusted OR 21.8, 95 % CI 1.7 274.8, P=0.017). Both hand washing (adjusted OR 0.07, 95 % CI 0.008-0.66, P=0.02) and wearing of N95 masks (adjusted OR 0.1, 95% CI 0.02-0.86, P=0.04) remained strongly protective but gowns and gloves had no effect.     

2003年深圳市传染性非典型肺炎流行特征分析

目的 了解深圳市传染性非典型肺炎(SARS)的流行病学特征。方法 对2003年深圳市常住和流动人口中发生的SARS临床诊断、疑似和医学观察病例进行描述流行病学分析。结果2003年深圳市共发生53例SARS临床诊断病例、69例SARS疑似病例和206例SAPS医学观察病例,其中SARS临床诊断病例的发病率为0．76／10万,死亡4例,病死率为7．55％。分析53例SARS临床诊断病例,结果 显示全市6区均发生病例;发病主要集中在2月上旬和3月下旬;男女性别比为1：0．66,20～39岁年龄组发病人数最多,占54．72％,职业分布以干部职员、学生病例为主,分别占24．5％、20、8％,无医护人员感染;19例患者有明确接触史,41例为散发病例。SARS临床诊断、疑似与医学观察三类病例的发病时间、职业分布、住院时间分布并不相同。结论 深圳市SARS发病以散发为主。及早采取集中定点收治病例,分类隔离治疗和观察等措施可有效控制SARS疫情的传播。     

Updated interim surveillance case definition for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)--United States,April 29, 2003

CDC's interim surveillance case definition for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) has been updated to include laboratory criteria for evidence of infection with the SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) (Figure, Box). In addition, clinical criteria have been revised to reflect the possible spectrum of respiratory illness associated with SARS-CoV. Epidemiologic criteria have been retained. The majority of U.S. cases of SARS continue to be associated with travel, with only limited secondary spread to household members or health-care providers.     

Outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome--worldwide, 2003

Since late February 2003, CDC has been supporting the World Health Organization (WHO) in the investigation of a multicountry outbreak of atypical pneumonia of unknown etiology. The illness is being referred to as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). This report describes the scope of the outbreak, preliminary case definition, and interim infection control guidance for the United States.     

Severe acute respiratory syndrome, Beijing, 2003

The largest outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) struck Beijing in spring 2003. Multiple importations of SARS to Beijing initiated transmission in several healthcare facilities. Beijing's outbreak began March 5; by late April, daily hospital admissions for SARS exceeded 100 for several days; 2,521 cases of probable SARS occurred. Attack rates were highest in those 20-39 years of age; 1% of cases occurred in children <10 years. The case-fatality rate was highest among patients >65 years (27.7% vs. 4.8% for those 20-64 years, p < 0.001). Healthcare workers accounted for 16% of probable cases. The proportion of case-patients without known contact to a SARS patient increased significantly in May. Implementation of early detection, isolation, contact tracing, quarantine, triage of case-patients to designated SARS hospitals, and community mobilization ended the outbreak.     

Update: severe acute respiratory syndrome--United States, 2003

CDC, in collaboration with state and local health departments, the World Health Organization (WHO), and other partners, continues to investigate cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). During November 1, 2002-May 7, 2003, a total of 6,903 SARS cases were reported to WHO from 29 countries, including the United States; 495 deaths (case-fatality proportion: 7.2%) have been reported. This report updates information on reported U.S. SARS cases.     

37例传染性非典型肺炎流行病学分析

目的 了解传染性非典型肺炎(SARS)的流行病学特征，为制定预防控制对策和措施提供科学依据。方法 采用统一的流行病学个案调查表对病例进行调查并分析。结果 深圳市福田区共报告37例散发SARS病例，患以青壮年为主，平均年龄23．1a；发病率为4．38／10万，病死率为5．4％，有一定的家庭聚集性，无医务人员感染。结论 SARS是一种以呼吸道传播为主的传染病。目前发现传染源是SARS病人，潜伏期1～12d，通过短距离飞沫和密切接触传播，人群普遍易感。     

Update: severe acute respiratory syndrome--United States, 2003

CDC continues to work with state and local health departments, the World Health Organization (WHO), and other partners to investigate cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). This report updates reported SARS cases worldwide and in the United States, and summarizes changes in travel recommendations for Beijing and Taiwan, where travel advisories have been downgraded to travel alerts.     

Cluster of cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome among Toronto healthcare workers after implementation of infection control precautions: a case series.

OBJECTIVE: To review the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) infection control practices, the types of exposure to patients with SARS, and the activities associated with treatment of such patients among healthcare workers (HCWs) who developed SARS in Toronto, Canada, after SARS-specific infection control precautions had been implemented. METHODS: A retrospective review of work logs and patient assignments, detailed review of medical records of patients with SARS, and comprehensive telephone-based interviews of HCWs who met the case definition for SARS after implementation of infection control precautions. RESULTS: Seventeen HCWs from 6 hospitals developed disease that met the case definition for SARS after implementation of infection control precautions. These HCWs had a mean age (+/-SD) of 39+/-2.3 years. Two HCWs were not interviewed because of illness. Of the remaining 15, only 9 (60%) reported that they had received formal infection control training. Thirteen HCWs (87%) were unsure of proper order in which personal protective equipment should be donned and doffed. Six HCWs (40%) reused items (eg, stethoscopes, goggles, and cleaning equipment) elsewhere on the ward after initial use in a room in which a patient with SARS was staying. Use of masks, gowns, gloves, and eyewear was inconsistent among HCWs. Eight (54%) reported that they were aware of a breach in infection control precautions. HCWs reported fatigue due to an increased number and length of shifts; participants worked a median of 10 shifts during the 10 days before onset of symptoms. Seven HCWs were involved in the intubation of a patient with SARS. One HCW died, and the remaining 16 recovered. CONCLUSION: Multiple factors were likely responsible for SARS in these HCWs, including the performance of high-risk patient care procedures, inconsistent use of personal protective equipment, fatigue, and lack of adequate infection control training.     

Update: Outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome--worldwide, 2003

CDC continues to support the World Health Organization (WHO) in the investigation of a multicountry outbreak of unexplained atypical pneumonia referred to as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). This report includes summaries of the epidemiologic investigations and public health responses in several affected locations where CDC is collaborating with international and national health authorities. This report also describes an unusual cluster of cases associated with a hotel in Hong Kong and identifies the potential etiologic agent of SARS. Epidemiologic and laboratory investigations of SAPS are ongoing.     

Update: outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome--worldwide, 2003

CDC and the World Health Qrganization (WHO) are continuing to investigate the multicountry outbreak of unexplained atypical pneumonia referred to as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Pending development of confirmatory laboratory testing capacity, CDC's interim suspected SARS case definition is based on clinical criteria and epidemiologic linkage to other SARS cases or areas with community transmission of SARS. This case definition will be updated periodically as new information becomes available. Epidemiologic and laboratory investigations of SARS are ongoing. As of April 2, 2003, a total of 2,223 suspected and/or probable SARS cases have been reported to WHO from 16 countries, including the United States. The reported SARS cases include 78 deaths (case-fatality proportion: 3.5%). This report summarizes SARS cases among U.S. residents and surveillance and prevention activities in the United States.     

糖皮质激素治疗严重急性呼吸综合征初探

目的 探讨糖皮质激素在严重急性呼吸综合征(SARS)治疗中的作用。方法 对2003年3月至5月在本院收治的70例SARS患者进行分析。结果 (1)70例患者治愈出院63例,死亡7例,平均住院16．9d。(2)激素治疗：11例未接受激素治疗,平均住院16．8d;59例采用甲泼尼龙40～640mg／d,其中小剂量组23例,40～80mg／d,平均住院15d;中剂量组27例,治疗剂量120～240mg／d,平均住院18．5d;大剂量组9例,320～640mg／d,平均住院17．9d。结论 早期、适量使用糖皮质激素能明显改善SARS患者的临床症状,减轻病变进展程度,加快肺部病变的吸收。但目前的数据显示,使用糖皮质激素不能缩短住院时间。     

19例SARS死亡病例免疫学特征分析

目的　总结 19例严重急性呼吸综合征 (SARS)死亡病例的免疫学特点。方法　分析SARS死亡病例的一般临床特征 ,并用流式细胞仪检测T淋巴细胞及其亚群、NK和B细胞绝对计数 ,并与艾滋病 (AIDS)患者及正常对照组比较。结果　SARS死亡病例的淋巴细胞总数、T、T4和T8淋巴细胞绝对数均显著低于AIDS组及正常对照组(P <0 0 0 1) ,4项指标最低值分别为 85个 /mm3 、3 8个 /mm3 、2 6个 /mm3 和 14个 /mm3 ;SARS组的T4/T8淋巴细胞比值高于AIDS组 (P <0 0 0 1) ,与正常对照组无显著性差异 (P =0 8663 ) ;NK和B淋巴细胞低于正常组 (P <0 0 0 1) ,最低值分别为 2个 /mm3 和 17个 /mm3 。结论　SARS患者的细胞和体液免疫功能明显低下。检测T淋巴细胞及其亚群、NK和B细胞绝对数有助于判断SARS患者的病情和预后 ,并对发病早期的辅助诊断有一定意义     

广州市儿童非典型肺炎41例临床特点分析

【目的】探讨非典型肺炎(severe acute respiratory syndrome，SARS)的临床特征，为临床防治SARS提供依据。【方法】对广州市某SARS定点收治医院41例SARS住院患儿与同期住院44例普通肺炎患儿的性别、年龄、人口学特征及父母亲职业分布、SARS接触史、症状、体征、实验室检查、影像学特征等进行分析。【结果】41例感染SARS患儿病例组，男性22例，女性19例，男女发病没有明确性别差异。发病前有明确SARS接触史、以家庭聚集发病5例。本组年龄分布，发病年龄最小3个月，最大12岁，平均年龄7岁。以11岁年龄组发病较多(7例占17％)。本组儿童发病以散发为主，未见学校、托幼机构内流行。41例SARS患儿治疗痊愈出院后，追综调查1年暂未发现传染他人感染致病的证据。【结论】儿童SARS发病率较低，临床症状较轻．预后好。     

Update: severe acute respiratory syndrome--United States,June 11, 2003

CDC continues to work with state and local health departments, the World Health Organization (WHO), and other partners to investigate cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). This report updates SARS cases reported worldwide and in the United States, and describes the eighth probable U.S. SARS case with laboratory evidence of SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) infection.     

Update: severe acute respiratory syndrome--United States,May 14, 2003

CDC continues to work with state and local health departments, the World Health Organization (WHO), and other partners to investigate cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). This report provides an update on reported SARS cases worldwide and in the United States.     

Update: severe acute respiratory syndrome--United States,June 4, 2003

CDC continues to work with state and local health departments, the World Health Organization (WHO), and other partners to investigate cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). This report updates SARS cases reported worldwide and in the United States and summarizes changes in CDC's recommendations for travel to Singapore and Hong Kong and the resulting modification to the interim U.S. case definition for SARS.