Lessons from the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Outbreak in Hong Kong

Autor: Abu S.M. Abdullah, Brian Tomlinson, Clive S. Cockram, G. Neil Thomas
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2003
Předmět:
Zdroj: Emerging Infectious Diseases, Vol 9, Iss 9, Pp 1042-1045 (2003)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 1080-6040
1080-6059
DOI: 10.3201/eid0909.030366
Popis: Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is now a global public health threat with many medical, ethical, social, economic, political, and legal implications. The nonspecific signs and symptoms of this disease, coupled with a relatively long incubation period and the initial absence of a reliable diagnostic test, limited the understanding of the magnitude of the outbreak. This paper outlines our experience with public health issues that have arisen during this outbreak of SARS in Hong Kong. We confirmed that case detection, reporting, clear and timely dissemination of information, and strict infection control measures are essential in handling such an infectious disease outbreak. The need for an outbreak response unit is crucial to combat any future outbreak.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals