surveillance in Australia

Hassan Vally,1,3,4 Jenean D Spencer1 In March 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a global alert recommending active worldwide surveillance for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). This paper describes the epidem-iological features of cases reported by Australian states and territories to the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing between 17 March and 31 July 2003. There were 138 people inves-tigated for SARS: 111 as suspect and 27 as probable. Five probable cases were reported to WHO after review of other possible diagnoses and Australia-specifi c exclusion criteria had been applied. An addi-tional probable case identifi ed by laboratory testing overseas, but who was not under investigation when in Australia, was also reported to WHO. The method by which surveillance for SARS was rapidly established provided an opportunity to examine Australia’s planning and preparedness for future res-piratory disease epidemics such as infl uenza. Commun Dis Intell 2004;28:181–186