Viral load distribution in SARS outbreak

Chung Ming Chu; Vincent C.C. Cheng; Ivan F.N. Hung; Kin Sang Chan; Bone S.F. Tang; Thomas H.F. Tsang; Kwok Hung Chan; Kwok Yung Yuen

doi:10.3201/eid1112.040949

Viral load distribution in SARS outbreak

Chung Ming Chu, Vincent C.C. Cheng, Ivan F.N. Hung, Kin Sang Chan, Bone S.F. Tang, Thomas H.F. Tsang, Kwok Hung Chan, Kwok Yung Yuen

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

59 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

An unprecedented community outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) occurred in the Amoy Gardens, a high-rise residential complex in Hong Kong. Droplet, air, contaminated fomites, and rodent pests have been proposed to be mechanisms for transmitting SARS in a short period. We studied nasopharyngeal viral load of SARS patients on admission and their geographic distribution. Higher nasopharyngeal viral load was found in patients living in adjacent units of the same block inhabited by the index patient, while a lower but detectable nasopharyngeal viral load was found in patients living further away from the index patient. This pattern of nasopharyngeal viral load suggested that airborne transmission played an important part in this outbreak in Hong Kong. Contaminated fomites and rodent pests may have also played a role.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1882-1886
Number of pages	5
Journal	Emerging Infectious Diseases
Volume	11
Issue number	12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1112.040949
Publication status	Published - Dec 2005
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Epidemiology
Microbiology (medical)
Infectious Diseases

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10.3201/eid1112.040949

Cite this

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title = "Viral load distribution in SARS outbreak",

abstract = "An unprecedented community outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) occurred in the Amoy Gardens, a high-rise residential complex in Hong Kong. Droplet, air, contaminated fomites, and rodent pests have been proposed to be mechanisms for transmitting SARS in a short period. We studied nasopharyngeal viral load of SARS patients on admission and their geographic distribution. Higher nasopharyngeal viral load was found in patients living in adjacent units of the same block inhabited by the index patient, while a lower but detectable nasopharyngeal viral load was found in patients living further away from the index patient. This pattern of nasopharyngeal viral load suggested that airborne transmission played an important part in this outbreak in Hong Kong. Contaminated fomites and rodent pests may have also played a role.",

author = "Chu, {Chung Ming} and Cheng, {Vincent C.C.} and Hung, {Ivan F.N.} and Chan, {Kin Sang} and Tang, {Bone S.F.} and Tsang, {Thomas H.F.} and Chan, {Kwok Hung} and Yuen, {Kwok Yung}",

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AU - Chu, Chung Ming

AU - Cheng, Vincent C.C.

AU - Hung, Ivan F.N.

AU - Chan, Kin Sang

AU - Tang, Bone S.F.

AU - Tsang, Thomas H.F.

AU - Chan, Kwok Hung

AU - Yuen, Kwok Yung

PY - 2005/12

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AB - An unprecedented community outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) occurred in the Amoy Gardens, a high-rise residential complex in Hong Kong. Droplet, air, contaminated fomites, and rodent pests have been proposed to be mechanisms for transmitting SARS in a short period. We studied nasopharyngeal viral load of SARS patients on admission and their geographic distribution. Higher nasopharyngeal viral load was found in patients living in adjacent units of the same block inhabited by the index patient, while a lower but detectable nasopharyngeal viral load was found in patients living further away from the index patient. This pattern of nasopharyngeal viral load suggested that airborne transmission played an important part in this outbreak in Hong Kong. Contaminated fomites and rodent pests may have also played a role.

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Viral load distribution in SARS outbreak

Abstract

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

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