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- Title
Superspreading SARS Events, Beijing, 2003.
- Authors
Zhuang Shen; Fang Ning; Weigong Zhou; Xiong He; Changying Lin; Chin, Daniel P.; Zonghan Zhu; Schuchatt, Anne
- Abstract
Superspreading events were pivotal in the global spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). We investigated superspreading in one transmission chain early in Beijing's epidemic. Superspreading was defined as transmission of SARS to at least eight contacts. An index patient with onset of SARS 2 months after hospital admission was the source of four generations of transmission to 76 case-patients, including 12 healthcare workers and several hospital visitors. Four (5%) case circumstances met the superspreading definition. Superspreading appeared to be associated with older age (mean 56 vs. 44 years), case fatality (75% vs. 16%, p = 0.02, Fisher exact test), number of close contacts (36 vs. 0.37) and attack rate among close contacts (43% vs. 18.5%, p < 0.025). Delayed recognition of SARS in a hospitalized patient permitted transmission to patients, visitors, and healthcare workers. Older age and number of contacts merit investigation in future studies of superspreading.
- Subjects
BEIJING (China); SARS disease; EPIDEMICS; WORLD health; INFECTIOUS disease transmission; SUPERSPREADING events
- Publication
Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2004, Vol 10, Issue 2, p256
- ISSN
1080-6040
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3201/eid1002.030732