¶ … 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.
It is important to study the relevance of SARS to epidemiology because epidemiology can provide an amount of diverse and important information that can facilitate the process of controlling, if not totally preventing, its spread. By relating SARS to epidemiology, people can become aware of the whole story on SARS. Moreover, epidemiology can be a fundamental source in finding solutions to combat the disease. Thus, providing another measure in the management and control of its spread. For instance, in the outbreak cases of SARS in many places worldwide, the article indicated that epidemiology provided appropriate models in containing the disease.
Bibliography
Emerging Infections: What Have We Learned from SARS?
Retrieved on Nov. 12, 2004, from CDC.GOV.
Web site: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol10no7/pdfs/04-0166.pdf
