The problem

Current knowledge and experience indicates that the world will continue to face health threats from new or re-emerging infections such as SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome). The spread of SARS in Europe was prevented during the 2003 Chinese epidemic, and controlled in affected regions within a few months, but the economic impact on Asia was enormous. Future infectious disease outbreaks may have different transmission patterns to SARS. The challenge is to strengthen surveillance of such infections, so they are detected before they spread, and to improve control measures.

Overview:

SARSControl will assess the likelihood of infectious disease outbreaks, with a view to lessening their potential impact on health, economic performance and public concern.

The project will:

• Increase knowledge about the spread of SARS in affected countries
• Develop intervention strategies based on epidemiological and economic modelling
• Improve surveillance and risk communication strategies for effective control of SARS

Contribution to policy development:

• Strengthen health agencies’ ability to rapidly advise on and control fast-moving health threats to Europe by improving surveillance networks
• Facilitate the extension of SARS research to other infectious diseases, such as influenza, which may pose a threat in the future
• Refine policy-making in relation to risk assessment and intervention strategies, based on the predictions of mathematical models

Project deliverables

• Report on epidemiological, clinical and behavioural parameter values for both influenza and SARS – start May 2005, end January 2006
• Protocols for standardised recording of epidemiological data – start month 1, end month 18
• Recommendations for risk communication strategies and communication channels – start month 1, end month 19
• Computational framework for integration of different modelling approaches – start month 1, end month 30

Dissemination

• Website – start January 2005, end January 2007
• Workshops – months 18 and 36
• Newsletters – bimonthly
• Annual progress reports – month 12 and 24
• Final report – month 36

Technical information

Project acronym: SARSControl
Project’s official full title: Effective and Acceptable Strategies for the Control of SARS and new emerging infections in China and Europe
Research priority: 2.0. Providing health, security and opportunity to the people of Europe
Specific webpage: http://www2.eur.nl/fgg/mgz/SARSControl/Start.html
Proposal/contract no: 003824
Start date: 01/01/2005 (tentative date) 
Kick off meeting: January 2005 
Completion date: 31/12/2007 
European Commission scientific officer: Cornelius Schmaltz (cornelius.schmaltz@ec.europa.eu) 

Coordinator:
Name: Erasmus MC
Abbreviated Name: EMC
Address: Department of Public Health - P.O. Box 1738 - 3000 DR Rotterdam
Country: The Netherlands
Tel: +31 10 408 7714
Fax: +31 10 408 9449
Website: http://www2.eur.nl/fgg/mgz/

Partners

Name: Health Protection Agency
Abbreviated Name: HPA
Country: UK

Name: Institut de Veille Sanitaire
Abbreviated Name: inVS
Country: France

Name: Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology
Abbreviated Name: BIME
Country: China

Name: Hong Kong University
Abbreviated Name: HKU
Country: Hong Kong, China

Name: Universiteit Instelling Antwerpen
Abbreviated Name: UIA
Country: Belgium

Name: Hamburg University of Applied Sciences
Abbreviated Name: HUAS
Country: Germany

Name: Limburg University Centrum
Abbreviated Name: LUC
Country: Belgium

Name: University of Tübingen
Abbreviated Name: UT
Country: Germany

Name: National Public Health Institute
Abbreviated Name: KTL
Country: Finland

Name: Warwick University
Abbreviated Name: WU
Country: UK

Name: National Institute of Public Health and the Environment
Abbreviated Name: RIVM
Country: The Netherlands

Name: Municipal Health Service Rotterdam
Abbreviated Name: MHSR
Country: The Netherlands

Name: Centre for Disease Control
Abbreviated Name: CDC
Country: Taiwan, China

Name: University of East Anglia
Abbreviated Name: UEA
Country: UK

Name: Istituto Superiore di Sanità
Abbreviated Name: ISS
Country: Italy

Name: World Health Organisation for Europe
Abbreviated Name: WHO-EURO
Country: Switzerland

Name: MAPI Values
Abbreviated Name: MAPI
Country: The Netherlands