SARS: mobilizing and maintaining a public health emergency response.
During the spring and summer of 2003, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) mobilized the resources of the entire agency in a concerted effort to meet the challenges posed by the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Over the 133 days that comprised the emergency response phase of the SARS outbreak, CDC utilized the skills of more than 850 people. These staff were deployed from every Center, Institute, and Office within CDC and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. They provided technical assistance to countries reporting large numbers of cases and requesting assistance, met passengers and crew from these locations upon arrival in the United States, and assured that the syndrome was reported and thoroughly investigated within the United States. This paper describes the operational requirements that were established and the resources that were used to conduct this investigation.
Posid
Joseph M
JM
Emergency response coordinator in the Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Program, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA. jmp2@cdc.gov
Bruce
Sherrie M
SM
Guarnizo
Julie T
JT
Taylor
Melissa L
ML
Garza
Brenda W
BW
D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013192:Staff Development; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce