PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
BACKGROUND: COVID-19 and influenza have similar clinical presentations that can range from mild to severe disease. The World Health Organization recommends that countries use existing influenza surveillance to monitor COVID-19 transmission in communities. We aim to describe the surveillance and investigation of COVID-19 at the early stage of the pandemic in Taiwan.
METHODS: In February 2020, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control enhanced COVID-19 surveillance through its existing influenza surveillance. We retrospectively tested patients for SARS-CoV-2 who had symptoms of severe complicated influenza but were negative in influenza testing. We conducted an epidemiological investigation and contact tracing for the index patient and secondary cases to prevent virus transmission.
RESULTS: We identified the first COVID-19 patient on February 15 through enhanced COVID-19 surveillance. He had no history of traveling abroad and an unclear history of contact with COVID-19 cases. He presented with influenza-like illness on January 27 and was hospitalized from February 3 to 15. We identified 39 close contacts of the index patient, including 11 family members and 28 healthcare workers. In total, four close family contacts of the index patient tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. An additional 84 close contacts of the four secondary cases were identified and traced; none was diagnosed with COVID-19.
CONCLUSIONS: We recommend enhancing COVID-19 surveillance by testing patients with influenza-like illness. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, we recommend using appropriate personal protective equipment when in close contact with patients who present with influenza-like illness or when caring for patients with pneumonia of unknown etiology.
METHODS: In February 2020, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control enhanced COVID-19 surveillance through its existing influenza surveillance. We retrospectively tested patients for SARS-CoV-2 who had symptoms of severe complicated influenza but were negative in influenza testing. We conducted an epidemiological investigation and contact tracing for the index patient and secondary cases to prevent virus transmission.
RESULTS: We identified the first COVID-19 patient on February 15 through enhanced COVID-19 surveillance. He had no history of traveling abroad and an unclear history of contact with COVID-19 cases. He presented with influenza-like illness on January 27 and was hospitalized from February 3 to 15. We identified 39 close contacts of the index patient, including 11 family members and 28 healthcare workers. In total, four close family contacts of the index patient tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. An additional 84 close contacts of the four secondary cases were identified and traced; none was diagnosed with COVID-19.
CONCLUSIONS: We recommend enhancing COVID-19 surveillance by testing patients with influenza-like illness. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, we recommend using appropriate personal protective equipment when in close contact with patients who present with influenza-like illness or when caring for patients with pneumonia of unknown etiology.
摘要：
背景：COVID-19和流感具有相似的临床表现，从轻度到重度疾病。世界卫生组织建议各国使用现有的流感监测来监测COVID-19在社区中的传播。我们的目的是描述台湾大流行早期对COVID-19的监测和调查。
方法：2020年2月，台湾疾病控制中心通过现有的流感监测加强了COVID-19监测。我们对SARS-CoV-2患者进行了回顾性测试，这些患者有严重的复杂流感症状，但在流感测试中呈阴性。我们对指标患者和二次病例进行了流行病学调查和接触者追踪，以防止病毒传播。
结果：我们在2月15日通过加强COVID-19监测确定了首例COVID-19患者。他没有出国旅行的历史，也没有与COVID-19病例接触的历史。他于1月27日出现流感样疾病，并于2月3日至15日住院。我们确定了39名索引患者的密切接触者，包括11名家庭成员和28名医护人员。总的来说,该指标患者的四名亲密家庭接触者SARS-CoV-2检测呈阳性。4例次要病例中的另外84名密切接触者被识别和追踪；没有人被诊断出患有COVID-19。
结论：我们建议通过检测流感样疾病患者来加强COVID-19监测。为了防止COVID-19的传播，我们建议在与患有流感样疾病的患者密切接触或照顾病因不明的肺炎患者时使用适当的个人防护设备。
方法：2020年2月，台湾疾病控制中心通过现有的流感监测加强了COVID-19监测。我们对SARS-CoV-2患者进行了回顾性测试，这些患者有严重的复杂流感症状，但在流感测试中呈阴性。我们对指标患者和二次病例进行了流行病学调查和接触者追踪，以防止病毒传播。
结果：我们在2月15日通过加强COVID-19监测确定了首例COVID-19患者。他没有出国旅行的历史，也没有与COVID-19病例接触的历史。他于1月27日出现流感样疾病，并于2月3日至15日住院。我们确定了39名索引患者的密切接触者，包括11名家庭成员和28名医护人员。总的来说,该指标患者的四名亲密家庭接触者SARS-CoV-2检测呈阳性。4例次要病例中的另外84名密切接触者被识别和追踪；没有人被诊断出患有COVID-19。
结论：我们建议通过检测流感样疾病患者来加强COVID-19监测。为了防止COVID-19的传播，我们建议在与患有流感样疾病的患者密切接触或照顾病因不明的肺炎患者时使用适当的个人防护设备。
