Introduction of SARS in France, March-April, 2003

Abstract

We describe severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in France. Patients meeting the World Health Organization definition of a suspected case underwent a clinical, radiologic, and biologic assessment at the closest university-affiliated infectious disease ward. Suspected cases were immediately reported to the Institut de Veille Sanitaire. Probable case-patients were isolated, their contacts quarantined at home, and were followed for 10 days after exposure. Five probable cases occurred from March through April 2003; four were confirmed as SARS coronavirus by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, serologic testing, or both. The index case-patient (patient A), who had worked in the French hospital of Hanoi, Vietnam, was the most probable source of transmission for the three other confirmed cases; two had been exposed to patient A while on the Hanoi-Paris flight of March 22-23. Timely detection, isolation of probable case-patients, and quarantine of their contacts appear to have been effective in preventing the secondary spread of SARS in France.

Figure 1

Cases of SARS, by date of onset and exposure, laboratory results and type of exposures, France, March-April, 2003.

Figure 2

Seats occupied by Probable case of SARS and close contacts to patient A, Air France Flight 171, Hanoi-Paris, 22-23 March, 2003. Numbers and letters in bold indicate seat lanes and rows, respectively. Patient A occupied seat 26L (next to the window). Seats of close passengers who were followed for 10 days are indicated by an X. They included two passengers who sat in the row ahead (25K and 25J, there was no seat at 25L), two passengers who occupied seats 26K and 26J, and three passengers who sat in the row behind (27J, 27K and 27L). A row with no seats separated row 27 from row 28; a partition separated row 25 from the rest of the cabin. Consequently, passengers seated in rows 28 and 24 were excluded. The lavatories are indicated (WC). Patient A and B used the front lavatory (WC1) while patient C used the one in the back (WC4). The arrow between seat 26L and the lavatory WC1 indicates that patient A passed through the empty space between the plane wall and seat 25K where patient B was seated.