Homelessness and the response to emerging infectious disease outbreaks: Lessons from SARS
Homelessness and the response to emerging infectious disease outbreaks: Lessons from SARS
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DOI：
10.1007/s11524-008-9270-2
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发表时间：
2008-05-01
影响因子：
6.6
通讯作者：
Hwang, Stephen W.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Leung, Cheryl S.;Ho, Minnie M.;Hwang, Stephen W.
在2003年多伦多严重急性呼吸综合征（SARS）疫情期间，SARS可能传入无家可归者群体是一个备受关注的严重问题。尽管多伦多没有无家可归者感染SARS，但此次疫情凸显了制定应对疫情准备计划的必要性，该计划要考虑到与无家可归者相关的特殊问题。我们对无家可归者服务提供者和公共卫生官员（共17人）进行了关键知情人访谈，并确定了在沟通、感染控制、隔离和检疫以及资源分配等方面无家可归者群体所面临的特殊挑战。针对未来疫情的规划应考虑到以下需求：（1）建立能使公共卫生官员和无家可归者服务提供者之间进行快速双向沟通的系统；（2）确保无家可归者服务提供者能够获得感染控制物资并对员工进行培训；（3）为因员工短缺或服务对象感染率高而可能关闭无家可归者收容所做好准备；（4）规划好临床患病的无家可归者将在何处以及如何被隔离和治疗。多伦多的SARS经历为在有无家可归者大量存在的城市中应对未来疫情的规划提供了相关见解。
During the 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak in Toronto, the potential introduction of SARS into the homeless population was a serious concern. Although no homeless individual in Toronto contracted SARS, the outbreak highlighted the need to develop an outbreak preparedness plan that accounts for unique issues related to homeless people. We conducted key informant interviews with homeless service providers and public health officials (n=17) and identified challenges specific to the homeless population in the areas of communication, infection control, isolation and quarantine, and resource allocation. Planning for future outbreaks should take into account the need to (1) develop systems that enable rapid two-way communication between public health officials and homeless service providers, (2) ensure that homeless service providers have access to infection control supplies and staff training, (3) prepare for possible homeless shelter closures due to staff shortages or high attack rates among clients, and (4) plan for where and how clinically ill homeless individuals will be isolated and treated. The Toronto SARS experience provided insights that are relevant to response planning for future outbreaks in cities with substantial numbers of homeless individuals.