SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME (SARS): PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE

1951 WORDS

The responsible virus about SARS is called Coronavirus-SARS.1 This virus started in Asia in 2003 and spread in only a few months to more than 12 countries. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 8439 people have been infected with SARS and 9.6% have died because of this infection.2 Additionally, 20% of those cases were healthcare providers.2 According to the MMWR evaluation guidelines for surveillance systems, engaging stakeholders in the surveillance system evaluation process.3 As a Ph.D. nursing student, I will evaluate the surveillance system and engage the following stakeholders: the CDC, local health departments (LHD), healthcare providers, and Oregon Public Health Division (OPHD), patients and their close contacts, legal communities, and laboratories.

 The Public Health Importance of SARS

SARS is a viral infection, which is caused by Coronavirus-SARS1 and can spread by close human’s contact through respiratory droplet in males and females.1 In 2003 in the USA, out of 161 suspected cases, eight cases were confirmed to be infected with SARS. According to WHO, the mortality rate of SARS is 50% in older adults (>65 years old), 15% in middle age adults (45-65 years old), 6% in young adults (25-44 years old), and 6% in younger than 24 years old.4 The highest fatality ration was 15-19% in Canada, 13-15% in Singapore, 11-17% in Hong Kong, and 5-13% in China.4 Karlberg and Lai found that females