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. 2004 Jan;10(1):25-31.
doi: 10.3201/eid1001.030553.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome, Beijing, 2003

Wannian Liang  1 , Zonghan Zhu, Jiyong Guo, Zejun Liu, Weigong Zhou, Daniel P Chin, Anne Schuchat; Beijing Joint SARS Expert Group
Affiliations

Severe acute respiratory syndrome, Beijing, 2003

Wannian Liang et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2004 Jan.

Abstract

The largest outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) struck Beijing in spring 2003. Multiple importations of SARS to Beijing initiated transmission in several healthcare facilities. Beijing's outbreak began March 5; by late April, daily hospital admissions for SARS exceeded 100 for several days; 2,521 cases of probable SARS occurred. Attack rates were highest in those 20-39 years of age; 1% of cases occurred in children <10 years. The case-fatality rate was highest among patients >65 years (27.7% vs. 4.8% for those 20-64 years, p < 0.001). Healthcare workers accounted for 16% of probable cases. The proportion of case-patients without known contact to a SARS patient increased significantly in May. Implementation of early detection, isolation, contact tracing, quarantine, triage of case-patients to designated SARS hospitals, and community mobilization ended the outbreak.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Epidemic curve—severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) probable case-patients by date of hospitalization and type of exposure, Beijing, 2003. Open bars indicate nonhealthcare workers without contact with a SARS patient; dark bars (“1.1”) indicate nonhealthcare workers with contact with a SARS patient; light filled bars indicate healthcare workers.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Clusters of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) cases among healthcare workers in four hospitals, Beijing 2003.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Attack rates (cases per 100,000 population) by age and sex of probable severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Beijing 2003.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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