Epidemiological and genetic analysis of severe acute respiratory syndrome.
The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemics in 2002-2003 showed how quickly a novel infectious disease can spread both within communities and internationally. We have reviewed the epidemiological and genetic analyses that have been published both during and since these epidemics, and show how quickly data were collected and analyses undertaken. Key factors that determine the speed and scale of transmission of an infectious disease were estimated using statistical and mathematical modelling approaches, and phylogenetic analyses provided insights into the origin and evolution of the SARS-associated coronavirus. The SARS literature continues to grow, and it is hoped that international collaboration in the analysis of epidemiological and contact-network databases will provide further insights into the spread of this newly emergent infectious disease.
Donnelly
Christl A
CA
Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London, UK. c.donnelly@imperial.ac.uk <c.donnelly@imperial.ac.uk>
Fisher
Matthew C
MC
Fraser
Christophe
C
Ghani
Azra C
AC
Riley
Steven
S
Ferguson
Neil M
NM
Anderson
Roy M
RM
D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / Q000235:genetics*; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*