[Study on the epidemiological characteristics of severe acute respiratory syndrome in Shanxi province].
OBJECTIVE
To describe the epidemiological characteristics and related factors of SARS in Shanxi in order to provide scientific basis for prevention and control of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).


METHODS
Data on clinically-diagnosed SARS cases reported to Shanxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention through SARS reporting system of Shanxi province and epidemiological reports were collected from early March to 20 May, 2003. The characteristics of SARS distribution in time, place and population in Shanxi were described. The epidemiological characteristics and related influential factors were analyzed with EPI info 6.0 software.


RESULTS
Since the first imported SARS case was diagnosed clinically on 7 March and till 20 May in Shanxi province, the number of cumulative clinically-diagnosed SARS cases were 445 with an attack rate of 1.34/10,000. 20 deaths occurred in that period with the mortality rate 4.49%. The number of cases increased from 28 March and formed the first peak. However, the number continued to increase until 18 April to have formed the second peak. Since then, the number of cases has gradually decreased gradually. Since 19 May, there has been no clinically-diagnosed cases being reported. SARS cases were mostly seen in urban areas of the city (83.82% of the total SARS cases) with sporadic cases found in rural areas. Students and medical staff and people from 20 - 59 years of age occupied the large part of the cases. Age specific mortality rate increased with age and the male/female ratio was 1:0.87.


CONCLUSIONS
In Shanxi province, the SARS epidemic seemed to have had the following stages: importation of the first case, gradual increase of the number of cases to reach the peak and decreasing. Case identification at early stage as well as taking measures to decrease the chance of transmission were strategically crucial for controlling the spread of SARS virus in the community.
Mei
Zhi-qiang
ZQ
Shanxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Taiyuan 030012, China.
Guan
Lian-xin
LX
Chai
Zhi-kai
ZK
Duan
Fa-yu
FY
Qu
Cheng-yi
CY
Zhang
Jie-min
JM
Zhai
Ru-fang
RF
Wu
Li-ping
LP
Chen
Tao-an
TA
Zhao
Liang-huai
LH
Li
Guo-hua
GH
Sang
Zhi-hong
ZH
D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009790:Occupations; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality