News Release

International health officials examine SARS case study at symposium focused on public health preparedness.

January 26, 2004 press release from the University of Michigan News Service and School of Public Health.

Health professionals have learned a great deal since SARS arrived on the scene about a year ago.

But at an all-day symposium Jan. 20, presenters made it clear the learning process continues on this emerging infectious disease.

Nearly 400 people from across the country attended the SARS case study, examining what was learned and how it applies to this year's re-emergence of SARS, as well as other newly identified diseases such as avian flu and the West Nile Virus.

The event was hosted by the Michigan Academic Center for Public Health Preparedness, part of a national network of academic centers established to support preparedness efforts of state and local health departments. Attendees included doctors, nurses, public health professionals, emergency responders and students.

Participants included Malik Peiris, professor of microbiology at the University of Hong Kong. Peiris played a key role in the identification of the SARS coronavirus and is heavily involved this year in work on both SARS and the new avian flu. He made his presentation by phone from Hong Kong.

Peiris said his work on SARS has demonstrated that new, emerging diseases continue to pose a threat and that health professionals should not relax and think that all has been solved in medicine.

David Bell, senior medical officer for the National Center for Infectious Diseases, part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said another important lesson is that some people infected with SARS will not transmit the disease to anyone, while others might pass it to hundreds of others. Figuring out who those "superspreaders" are and preventing them from sharing infection is essential, he said.

The CDC recently issued a new plan for how to deal with SARS, and the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) followed with a state-specific plan released last week.

Matt Boulton, clinical associate professor of epidemiology at the School of Public Health and the recently named chief medical executive for MDCH, said Michigan continues to refine its approach for dealing with emerging diseases.

This month it is rolling out a new disease reporting web site—the Michigan Disease Surveillance System—a tool for tracking diseases through 40 different reports to help health professionals design appropriate responses.

He called on public health leaders to emphasize epidemiology and laboratory skills to identify and track new diseases as a complement to public health's existing strength in health program services.

Contact : Colleen Newvine
Phone: (734) 647-4411
E-mail: cnewvine@umich.edu