Emerging infections: epidemiological lessons from SARS

¶ … Infections: What we have learned from SARS" discusses information on the emergence of SARS. Included in the text is a very brief history as to where SARS started to emerge, the factors that contribute to its spread and growth, the strategies, measures, and actions taken by society (specifically the area of medicine) on how to combat the disease, the risk factors to acquiring SARS, and statistics of the population that have been affected by SARS. In general, the article discussed the epidemiology of the disease and its role in managing SARS.

According to the article, zoonosis is responsible for the emergence of SARS that specifically started from wild game markets in Guangdong, China. The spread of the SARS virus was even worsened by the expansion of the wild meat industry. Another element that contributed in the spread of SARS are ecological changes that allowed an increase in contact between people and animals. From a study of the outbreak of SARS in 2003, the people who were found to be at higher risks of acquiring the disease were the healthcare workers. Due to their contact with different patients, it allows them to become carriers of the disease.