Diagnostic criteria during SARS outbreak in Hong Kong.

Louis Y Chan,Hong Fung,Alan Wu,Paul K S Chan,Timothy H Rainer,Joseph J Y Sung,Philip K T Li,Nelson Lee

doi:10.3201/eid1006.030618

Abstract

Diagnostic criteria during SARS outbreak in Hong Kong.

Highlights

To the Editor: A novel coronavirus caused more than 8,000 probable cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) worldwide [1,2] during the 2003 outbreak
Before the etiologic agent was identified, the diagnosis of SARS was made according to a set of clinical-epidemiologic criteria as suggested by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) [1,2,3]
By using paired serologic testing to determine SARS-CoV infection [3], we evaluated the relative importance of the clinical-epidemiologic diagnostic criteria during an outbreak

Summary

Diagnostic Criteria during SARS Outbreak in Hong Kong

To the Editor: A novel coronavirus caused more than 8,000 probable cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) worldwide [1,2] during the 2003 outbreak. Before the etiologic agent was identified, the diagnosis of SARS was made according to a set of clinical-epidemiologic criteria as suggested by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) [1,2,3]. By using paired serologic testing to determine SARS-CoV infection [3], we evaluated the relative importance of the clinical-epidemiologic diagnostic criteria during an outbreak. Probable SARS case-patients were those who met the CDC clinical criteria for severe respiratory illness of unknown etiology [3], and met the epidemiologic criterion for exposure in either a close or a possible contact. Seronegativity was defined as absence of antibody in convalescent-phase serum obtained >21 days after symptom onset [3]. SARS contact history and demographic and initial laboratory parameters in seropositive and seronegative patients

Venue of contact

Findings

Malaria Control and Public Health