Epidemiological determinants of spread of causal agent of severe acute respiratory syndrome in Hong Kong

Christl A. Donnelly, Azra C. Ghani, Gabriel M. Leung, Anthony J. Hedley, Christophe Fraser, Steven Riley, Laith J. Abu-Raddad, Lai Ming Ho, Thuan Quoc Thach, Patsy Chau, King Pan Chan, Tai Hing Lam, Lai Yin Tse, Thomas Tsang, Shao Haei Liu, James H.B. Kong, Edith M.C. Lau, Neil M. Ferguson, Roy M. Anderson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

805 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Health authorities worldwide, especially in the Asia Pacific region, are seeking effective public-health interventions in the continuing epidemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). We assessed the epidemiology of SARS in Hong Kong. Methods: We included 1425 cases reported up to April 28, 2003. An integrated database was constructed from several sources containing information on epidemiological, demographic, and clinical variables. We estimated the key epidemiological distributions: infection to onset, onset to admission, admission to death, and admission to discharge. We measured associations between the estimated case fatality rate and patients' age and the time from onset to admission. Findings: After the initial phase of exponential growth, the rate of confirmed cases fell to less than 20 per day by April 28. Public-health interventions included encouragement to report to hospital rapidly after the onset of clinical symptoms, contact tracing for confirmed and suspected cases, and quarantining, monitoring, and restricting the travel of contacts. The mean incubation period of the disease is estimated to be 6.4 days (95% CI 5.2-7.7). The mean time from onset of clinical symptoms to admission to hospital varied between 3 and 5 days, with longer times earlier in the epidemic. The estimated case fatality rate was 13.2% (9.8-16.8) for patients younger than 60 years and 43.3% (35.2-52.4) for patients aged 60 years or older assuming a parametric γ distribution. A non-parametric method yielded estimates of 6.8% (4.0-9.6) and 55.0% (45.3-64.7), respectively. Case clusters have played an important part in the course of the epidemic. Interpretation: Patients' age was strongly associated with outcome. The time between onset of symptoms and admission to hospital did not alter outcome, but shorter intervals will be important to the wider population by restricting the infectious period before patients are placed in quarantine.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1761-1766
Number of pages6
JournalLancet
Volume361
Issue number9371
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 24 2003
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • General Medicine

Cite this