Weekly releases (1997–2007) - Volume 7, Issue 16, 17 April 2003

The World Health Organization (WHO) has formally announced that a member of the coronavirus family never before seen in humans, named by WHO and its SARS laboratory network as the SARS virus, is the cause of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) (1). An expert meeting in Geneva, attended by representatives from the SARS laboratory network, reviewed the data available on SARS, and considered the imminent strategy for development of a diagnostic test for SARS.

The sixth probable case of sudden acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) diagnosed in the United Kingdom (UK) was reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11 April (1). The patient has been isolated in hospital where his condition is reported as stable. He was diagnosed as a probable SARS case because of having a significant respiratory illness with radiological signs, and having had close contact with a probable case of SARS. Laboratory investigations are underway at the Central Public Health Laboratory of the Health Protection Agency. Initial tests for coronavirus have been negative. It is, however, recognized that such initial (polymerase chain reaction (PCR)) tests can be negative in a person who is infected with the SARS virus. Definitive results through antibody testing of acute and convalescent sera will be available later (2, 3).

Influenza activity in the 22 networks (19 countries) that participate in the European Influenza Surveillance Scheme (EISS, http://www.eiss.org/) in the week ending 6 April 2003 (week 14/2003) was regional in Italy, local in nine networks and sporadic in eight networks (1). One network – Portugal – reported no influenza activity, indicating that the overall level of clinical activity was at baseline levels. Compared to week 13/2003, clinical morbidity rates declined in thirteen networks and remained stable in two (France and Slovenia).

Preliminary results from the 2002 collection of the Gonococcal Resistance to Antimicrobials Surveillance Programme (GRASP) (1, 2) show marked increases in resistance to ciprofloxacin in England and Wales. Between June and August 2002, consecutive gonococcal isolates from 26 genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics were systematically tested for antimicrobial susceptibility at one of two central reference laboratories. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of five antimicrobials were determined, including ciprofloxacin (range tested 0.002-0.125 mg/l,) extended to 32 mg/l as necessary). Clinical, demographic, and behavioural data were obtained for each patient included in the collection.

The National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) in the Netherlands has begun surveillance of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains with the Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) gene in the Netherlands. This PVL gene is known to produce a potent toxin causing severe skin infections and necrotising pneumonia in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals. About 60% of PVL positive isolates in the Netherlands belonged to ‘cluster 28’, which is an epidemic strain in the European mainland, but which has not yet caused large outbreaks in the Netherlands.