Implications of SARS: medical geography and surveillance in disease detection.
OBJECTIVE
To expose pharmacy educators and practitioners to concepts of medical geography and medical surveillance. Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is used as a case example because it is an emerging infection and a prime example of the type of disease that pharmacists may encounter in daily practice (e.g., easily transmitted, resembles the common cold).


METHODS
We retrieved data from publications related to medical geography, medical surveillance, and SARS. Data on current SARS cases in Hong Kong were obtained from the Hong Kong Department of Health Web site.


METHODS
Variables regarding new cases and deaths due to SARS were evaluated.


RESULTS
Background information on medical geography and medical surveillance was reviewed. Descriptive statistics were calculated for incidence, prevalence, and the number of deaths due to SARS in Hong Kong from March 14 to May 31, 2003.


CONCLUSIONS
Emerging infections are a serious concern for both the public and healthcare practitioners. The recent global diffusion of SARS highlights the ease in which diseases can diffuse from place to place. Understanding concepts related to medical geography and medical surveillance can help pharmacists be better prepared to anticipate disease diffusion and to evaluate signs of emerging infections. In turn, this can help pharmacists be better prepared to provide information and care to their patients. The long-term benefit of understanding how diseases spread and the specific activities related to disease detection is an opportunity for expanding the scope of pharmacy practice.
Litaker
John R
JR
Pharmacy Administration Division, College of Pharmacy, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA. jlitaker@mail.utexas.edu
Chou
Jennie Y
JY
Novak
Suzanne
S
Wilson
James P
JP
D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014943:Global Health; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000639:trends; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*