Introduction of SARS in France, March–April, 2003

Introduction of SARS in France, March–April, 2003

Daniel Christmann, Bruno Coignard, Jean-Claude Manuguerra, Michel André, Benoit Guery, Jacques Reynes, Olivier Lesens, Bruno Hoen, Dounia Bitar, Didier Che, Jean-Claude Desenclos, Denise Antona, Daniel Lévy-Bruhl, Sylvie van der Werf, Yazdan Yazdanpanah, Gilles Brücker, Michel Dupon, Magid Herida, Christian Michelet, Caroline Semaille, Agnes Lepoutre, Isabelle Bonmarin, Nicolas Escriou, Isabelle Capek, Bruno Hubert, Christine Meffre, Julien Emmanuelli, François Natali, Christine Larsen, Yves Mouton, Anna Burguière, Bénédicte Decludt, Andréa Infuso, Christine Saura, Dominique LeGoff, Suzanne Scheidegger

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 cases, and quarantine of their contacts appear to have been effective in preventing the secondary spread of SARS in France.

2004

Epidemiology, research, Transmission, coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome, commercial flight

DOI: 10.3201/eid1002.030351

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Infectious and parasitic diseases, Medicine