Data-driven exploration of ‘spatial pattern-time process-driving forces’ associations of SARS epidemic in Beijing, China

Wang, Jin-Feng; Christakos, George; Han, Wei-Guo; Meng, Bin

Severe Acute respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus known as SARSassociated coronavirus, SARS-CoV. 1, 2 According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a total of 8098 people worldwide became sick with SARS during the 2003 outbreak; of these, 774 people died. SARS quickly obtained the status of the first pandemic of the twenty-first century. 3, 4 In this work we focus on the SARS epidemic in the city of Beijing (China) during the year 2003. SARS usually spreads by person-to-person transmission. The virus transmits most readily by respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus can also spread when a person touches a surface or object contaminated with infectious droplets and then touches his/her mouth, nose or eyes. In addition, it is possible that the SARS virus might spread more broadly through the air (airborne spread) or by other ways that are not now known. 5 Naturally, composite space-time variations, disease parameters and determinants ( proximity to infected persons, population density, number of doctors, etc.) are essential features of the SARS epidemic. 6 Understanding these features is critical for the scientific representation of the epidemic and the efficient control of its transmission.