[Study on the dynamic prevalence of serum antibody against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus in employees from wild animal market in Guangzhou].

Objective: To investigate the dynamic trend of specific antibody against severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV in serum collected at various periods among employees in Guangzhou Xinyuan animal market.

Methods: Volunteers from employees of the animal market were recruited and their serum specific antibody against SARS-CoV were determined by enzyme linked immunesorbent assay (ELISA) method.

Results: Positive SARS-CoV specific IgG antibody was found 25.

Cross-host evolution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus in palm civet and human.

The genomic sequences of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronaviruses from human and palm civet of the 2003/2004 outbreak in the city of Guangzhou, China, were nearly identical. Phylogenetic analysis suggested an independent viral invasion from animal to human in this new episode. Combining all existing data but excluding singletons, we identified 202 single-nucleotide variations.

[Evaluation of a pilot study on needle and syringe exchange program among injecting drug users in a community in Guangdong, China].

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of needle and syringe exchange program among a community of injecting drug users (IDUs) on AIDS prevention.

Methods: A quasi-experiment design was used in a controlled community intervention study. Needle and syringe exchange program was implemented for 10 months in IDUs of an intervention community, including peer education and health education, provision of free needles and syringes, and collecting back of used needles and syringes by trained peer educators and local health workers, whereas no intervention measure in a control community was instituted.

Epidemiologic clues to SARS origin in China.

An epidemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) began in Foshan municipality, Guangdong Province, China, in November 2002. We studied SARS case reports through April 30, 2003, including data from case investigations and a case series analysis of index cases. A total of 1,454 clinically confirmed cases (and 55 deaths) occurred; the epidemic peak was in the first week of February 2003.

SARS: epidemiology.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) originated in Southern China in November 2002, and was brought to Hong Kong in February 2003. From Hong Kong, the disease spread rapidly worldwide but mostly to Asian countries. At the end of the epidemic in June, the global cumulative total was 8422 cases with 916 deaths (case fatality rate of 11%).

[Severe acute respiratory syndrome in Guangdong Province of China: epidemiology and control measures].

Objective: To explore epidemiological features and risk factors of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Guangdong Province of China, so as to work out effective strategies for its better control.

Methods: A total of 1 511 clinically confirmed SARS cases in Guangdong Province of China from November 16, 2002 to Jun 15, 2003 were retrospectively analyzed.

Results: The first SARS case was identified in Foshan municipality on November 16, 2002, followed by 1 511 clinically confirmed cases (including 58 deaths) up to May 15, 2003.

[Epidemiological study on severe acute respiratory syndrome in Guangdong province].

Objectives: To understand the epidemiological characteristics of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreaks in some areas of Guangdong province and to provide scientific basis for prevention and control measures against it.

Methods: Standardized questionnaire was used on individual cases. Data on the epidemiological characteristics as time, place, persons and aggregation status of SARS cases, development of the epidemics, were analyzed with software EPI 6.