Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemics in 2002-2003 showed how quickly a novel infectious disease can spread both within communities and internationally. We have reviewed the epidemiological and genetic analyses that have been published both during and since these epidemics, and show how quickly data were collected and analyses undertaken. Key factors that determine the speed and scale of transmission of an infectious disease were estimated using statistical and mathematical modelling approaches, and phylogenetic analyses provided insights into the origin and evolution of the SARS-associated coronavirus. The SARS literature continues to grow, and it is hoped that international collaboration in the analysis of epidemiological and contact-network databases will provide further insights into the spread of this newly emergent infectious disease.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/s1473-3099(04)01173-9

Type

Journal article

Journal

The Lancet. Infectious diseases

Publication Date

11/2004

Volume

4

Pages

672 - 683

Addresses

Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London, UK. c.donnelly@imperial.ac.uk <c.donnelly@imperial.ac.uk>

Keywords

Humans, SARS Virus, Communicable Diseases, Emerging, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, Disease Outbreaks, Models, Theoretical, China, Disease Transmission, Infectious