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Volume 10, Number 2—February 2004
Commentary

The Impressive and Rapidly Expanding Knowledge Base on SARS

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Author affiliation: *Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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Three days after issuing a global alert (1) about cases of atypical pneumonia in several countries in southeast Asia, the World Health Organization (WHO) introduced the term SARS to the world’s lexicon (2). Familiarity with the newly coined acronym for “severe acute respiratory syndrome” was immediate, fueled by fear and by virtually continuous coverage by the media.1 This intense reaction and scrutiny would generate multifaceted outcomes, enabling widespread collaboration and communication to help curb the tragic health consequences while wreaking economic, social, and even political havoc in many areas.

With similar speed, the clinical, public health, and research communities worldwide mounted an aggressive response to the new disease. Under the leadership of WHO, members of normally competitive groups worked together, often communicating several times a day, to acquire and share knowledge to stop the spread of disease. Events unfolded rapidly, requiring implementation of traditional control measures while generating in a matter of weeks an impressive body of knowledge about an unknown member of the coronavirus family. Scientific journals played a major role in this endeavor, expediting online publication of peer-reviewed data and other evolving information.

The articles in this special SARS issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases are representative of this sustained involvement and commitment, with respect to both scope of authorship and range of topics. This diversity also illustrates the substantial contributions of many disciplines to the growing knowledge base on SARS. The articles describe findings from clinical and epidemiologic investigations, laboratory research, and social and behavioral studies, and discuss lessons learned both locally and globally.

More than a decade ago, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) issued a report (3) on the continued risks of infectious diseases, outlining factors contributing to the increased emergence of such threats in a globalized era and steps that should be taken to adequately address them. Ironically, within a week of WHO’s unprecedented global alert (1), the IOM released an updated report (4) on emerging microbial threats, expanding on the severity and scope of the problem. The new report describes issues affecting disease emergence such as international travel and commerce, environmental changes, poverty and inequity, and the adaptability of microbes, and strongly emphasizes the need for increased surveillance and response capacity on a global level. The emergence of SARS reinforced the urgency of the situation, serving as an impetus for fundamental changes in the way the global health community interacts and bringing the message home to policymakers and the public.

Maintaining this motivation for change is essential. Efforts are needed to strengthen health systems nationally and internationally and to encourage and strengthen multidisciplinary collaborations among clinical, public health, research, and veterinary specialists worldwide. In addition, while technologic advances have increased access to and sharing of new information in unprecedented ways, we must recognize that the most vulnerable populations often do not have access to such information and look for new ways to convey essential health messages. Finally, as experience has so clearly demonstrated, vigilance for the unusual on the part of clinicians, laboratory workers, public health officials, and others, including the public, will continue to be a critical initial step in recognizing and responding to future emerging global microbial threats.

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References

  1. World Health Organization. WHO issues global alert about cases of atypical pneumonia. Press release issued by WHO, March 12, 2003. [cited 2003 Dec 13] Available from: URL: http://www.who.int/csr/sars/archive/2003_03_12/en/
  2. World Health Organization. World Health Organization issues emergency travel advisory. March 15, 2003. [cited 2003 Dec 13] Available from: URL: http://www.who.int/csr/sars/archive/2003_03_15/en/
  3. Lederberg  J, Shope  RE, Oaks  SC Jr, eds. for the Committee on Emerging Microbial Threats to Health, Division of Health Sciences Policy, Division of International Health, Institute of Medicine. Emerging infections: microbial threats to health in the United States. Washington: National Academy Press; 1992.
  4. Smolinski  MS, Hamburg  MA, Lederberg  J, eds. for the Committee on Emerging Microbial Threats to Health in the 21st Century, Board on Global Health, Institute of Medicine. Microbial threats to health: emergence, detection, and response. Washington: National Academies Press; 2003.

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Cite This Article

DOI: 10.3201/eid1002.031043

1As of December 31, 2003, a National Library of Medicine PubMed search using the term SARS produced >1,500 results; a popular internet search engine produced more than 5.3 million.

James M. Hughes, 
Director, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
James M. Hughes
Director, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
 

Table of Contents – Volume 10, Number 2—February 2004

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James M. Hughes, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, Mailstop C12, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA; fax: 404-639-3039

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Page created: January 31, 2011
Page updated: January 31, 2011
Page reviewed: January 31, 2011
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
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