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SARS

Answer

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) has not been detected anywhere in the world since the last case in 2004. The Department works with its EU partners through the Health Security Committee, the European Commission's Early Warning and Response System and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control to monitor emerging health threats and ensure rapid notification of any cases. The measures put in place during the previous global outbreak demonstrated that outbreaks of SARS can be contained and a global pandemic prevented.The Department also works in close collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) which maintains vigilance to the possibility of re-emergence of SARS, and would co-ordinate the international response to an outbreak. Case definitions for SARS cases have been internationally agreed and through the Global Alert and Response Network the UK will be rapidly notified of cases of SARS occurring anywhere in the world.The Department has developed a contingency plan in case this disease re-emerges, and has agreed the appropriate public health response for SARS. This plan is based upon our response to that outbreak and our generic preparedness for dealing with any infectious disease outbreak or newly emerging threat, and takes account of WHO guidance.The integrated public health and health service response to any SARS cases occurring in the UK would focus upon rapid detection of disease, preventing person to person transmission, containing the outbreak and provision of appropriate patient care. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) also developed detailed advice for clinicians on the rapid detection and diagnosis of infection and treatment of patients. The plan and guidance documents are not currently displayed on the Department's or the HPA's website as the disease has not been present globally since 2004, but would be activated upon notification of a new SARS case anywhere in the world.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

477 c1031-2W;477 c1030-1W; 209298

Session

2007-08

Subjects

SARS

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk