Household transmission of SARS: Lessons learnedNovember 07, 2006In the 2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Toronto, Ontario, about 20% of cases resulted from household transmission (spread of the infection within a household). Wilson-Clark and colleagues studied the characteristics of these household transmissions and report on risk factors that contributed to the spread of infection. Primary risk factors for transmission fall into 3 areas: the duration of time spent in the home by the index case (first case) after becoming ill, poor hand hygiene and poor use of respiratory protective measures. SARS presented a unique public health situation, in which urgent prevention and control measures neededto be taken, while at the same time the identity of the infectious agent was unknown. Canadian Medical Association Journal |
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| Related SARS Current Events and SARS News Articles 2-pronged protein attack could be source of SARS virulence Ever since the previously unknown SARS virus emerged from southern China in 2003, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston virologists have focused on finding the source of the pathogen's virulence - its ability to cause disease. Will genomics help prevent the next pandemic? This week, the Public Library of Science, an open-access publisher, presents the "Genomics of Emerging Infectious Disease," a collection of essays, perspectives, and reviews that explores how genomics-with all its associated tools and techniques-can provide insights into our understanding of emerging infectious disease. Paradigm shift needed to combat drug resistance When people travel, bacteria and other infectious agents travel with them. As about a billion people cross international borders each year, many more billions of the bugs come along for the ride. What are coral reef services worth? $130,000 to $1.2 million per hectare, per year: experts Experts concluding the global DIVERSITAS biodiversity conference today in Cape Town described preliminary research revealing jaw-dropping dollar values of the "ecosystem services" of biomes like forests and coral reefs - including food, pollution treatment and climate regulation. Should noninvasive ventilation be considered a high-risk procedure during an epidemic? Contrary to current policies recommending that non-invasive ventilation be avoided during an infectious outbreak, the author of a commentary in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) argues that it should be used expeditiously in this setting. World will miss 2010 target to stem biodiversity loss, experts say The world will miss its agreed target to stem biodiversity loss by next year, according to experts convening in Cape Town for a landmark conference devoted to biodiversity science. Surgical masks and N95 respirators provide similar protection against influenza A McMaster University study has found that surgical masks appear to be as good as N95 respirators in protecting health-care workers against influenza. Medical ethics experts identify, address key issues in H1N1 pandemic The anticipated onset of a second wave of the H1N1 influenza pandemic could present a host of thorny medical ethics issues best considered well in advance, according to the University of Toronto Joint Centre for Bioethics, which today released nine papers for public discussion. Swine Flu Could Wreak More Havoc on U.S. Economy, Says UAB Economist H1N1 influenza could slow growth in key industries and stall already-weak GDP growth in the third and fourth quarters of 2009, says a health economist in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Business. Public attitudes to new technology: Lessons for regulators New technologies may change our lives for the better, but sometimes they have risks. Communicating those benefits and risks to the public, and developing regulations to deal with them, can be difficult - particularly if there's already public opposition to the technology. More SARS Current Events and SARS News Articles |
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