Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in late 2002 and 2003 challenged the global public health community to confront a novel epidemic that spread rapidly from its origins in southern China until it had reached more than 25 other countries within a matter of months. In addition to the number of patients infected with the SARS virus, the disease had profound economic and political repercussions in many of the affected regions. Recent reports of isolated new SARS cases and a fear that the disease could reemerge and spread have put public health officials on high alert for any indications of possible new outbreaks. This report examines the response to SARS by public health systems in individual countries, the biology of the SARS coronavirus and related coronaviruses in animals, the economic and political fallout of the SARS epidemic, quarantine law and other public health measures that apply to combating infectious diseases, and the role of international organizations and scientific cooperation in halting the spread of SARS. The report provides an illuminating survey of findings from the epidemic, along with an assessment of what might be needed in order to contain any future outbreaks of SARS or other emerging infections.

The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in late 2002 and 2003 challenged the global public health community to confront a novel epidemic that spread rapidly from its origins in southern China until it had reached more than 25 other countries within a matter of months. In addition to the number of patients infected with the SARS virus, the disease had profound economic and political repercussions in many of the affected regions. Recent reports of isolated new SARS cases and a fear that the disease could reemerge and spread have put public health officials on high alert for any indications of possible new outbreaks. This report examines the response to SARS by public health systems in individual countries, the biology of the SARS coronavirus and related coronaviruses in animals, the economic and political fallout of the SARS epidemic, quarantine law and other public health measures that apply to combating infectious diseases, and the role of international organizations and scientific cooperation in halting the spread of SARS. The report provides an illuminating survey of findings from the epidemic, along with an assessment of what might be needed in order to contain any future outbreaks of SARS or other emerging infections.

This exciting book tells the story of the recent Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak. Follow the SARS trail from rural China as it spreads to various places in the world. See how seemingly casual contacts help the disease spread like wildfire. Work alongside the many infectious disease specialists from health organizations around the world as they painstakingly trace the disease to its origins and simultaneously work on treatments-all the time knowing that each hour of delay allows the disease to spread even further.

Highlights of the book include: - "Fighting Infectious Diseases: One Mission, Many Agents," by Dr Shiping Tang, Deputy Director, Center for Regional Security Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences - "SARS, Anti-Populism, and Elite Lies: Diseases from Which China Can Recover," by Professor Lynn T White, Professor of Politics & International Affairs, Woodrow Wilson School, Princeton University - "SARS and Hong Kong Culture," by Professor Leo Ou-fan Lee, Professor of Chinese Literature, Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations, Harvard University - "Facing the Unknowns of SARS in Hong Kong," by Prof KY Yuen, Head, Department of Microbiology, The Hong Kong University - "Cracking the Genome of the SARS Virus," by Dr Lawrence W Stanton, Senior Group Leader, SARS Project Coordinator, Genome Institute of Singapore - "Infection Control and Social Responsibility," by Dr Pheng Soon Lee, President, Singapore Medical Association - "SARS and Control Measures in Taiwan," by Prof CJ Chen, Professor of Epidemiology, National Taiwan University

This is a comprehensive and up-to-date account of the clinicalmanagement of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). It covers thevarious aspects, from diagnosis, clinical presentation and therapeuticmodalities to rehabilitation.A multidisciplinary approach is adopted, with inputs from clinicians, radiologists, intensivists, nurses, physiotherapists, and experts intraditional Chinese medicine

-SARS has received much attention and coverage by the media and has a high impact on the public making this a hot research topic for scientists. -