HIST4702 (2022-23) Digital History Project: SARS in Asia
Data: Understanding the Transmission of SARS in Hong Kong
Introduction
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a viral respiratory disease of zoonotic origin caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus. It originated in Guangdong province and spread to 29 countries from 2002-2004.
Our project used the method of data visualization to analyze the situation and the influence of SARS. In this project, we will mainly focus on SARS’s influence in Hong Kong.
After the data was collected, we used different diagrams to visualize it. Data visualization is a way to communicate information clearly and efficiently. We also acquired meaningful insights from it. Our project is mainly divided into three parts. First, we will show the epidemic situation globally and in Hong Kong. Then, we will analyze the influence of SARS, mainly in Hong Kong, such as through the aspects of economy, tourism, transportation and population. Finally, we will compare the influence of SARS in Guangdong (Mainland China), Singapore and Hong Kong.
The Analysis of the Epidemic Data of SARS in HK
Global Daily New Cases Development
Firstly, according to the number of global daily new cases (Graph 1), there was no massive outbreak of SARS, since daily reported new cases never went over 1000. The WHO, which dubbed SARS as an official global threat in 2003-3-15, recorded that the epidemic mostly fluctuated around 150 cases. It reached a peak of over 800 cases in late March. Then, it reached a second peak of over 300 cases between mid-April and early May. Finally, the cases decreased greatly in mid-May and ended in June.
From the development timeline, we can see that SARS disappeared quickly. Scientists remain unsure why it suddenly disappeared, though proposed the virus perhaps could not survive in high temperatures posed by the summer season. Also, people could quickly control the virus by public health measures, such as the medical test and quarantine to prevent further viral spreads.[1]
Worldwide Development Situation
SARS spread to 29 countries and regions (Graph 2). In Asia, most cases were concentrated in mainland China and Hong Kong; whereas in North America, most of them were located in Canada and the United States.The SARS cases were visibly mainly concentrated in well-developed regions, since they had greater population flows which made the disease easily spread among citizens. For example, the number of passengers carried by air transport in Canada increased by over 50% in 2003.[2] The data proves that the population flow in that area did have some relation with the spreading of SARS. Moreover, the virus was carried by an elderly woman who stayed at Hong Kong Metropole Hotel to Canada, culminating in Canada suffering a SARS outbreak.[3] For the rest of the other regions, they endured very few cases that mostly did not reach more than 10 cases, such as in Europe, Southeast Asia, Russia, India and Australia.
The Cumulative Cases of Key Affected Areas in Asia
As we thoroughly examine the SARS development situation (Graph 3), we can observe that the virus was mainly spread in Mainland China and Hong Kong, where over thousands of cases were recorded. The second worst affected areas were Taiwan and Singapore which suffered over hundreds of cases.
In contrast, other regions, like Southeast Asia, were all below 100 cases. The statistics show that those severely affected areas were located nearby the source country of the SARS virus (mainland China) and tended to be well-developed economically. The population flow of severely affected areas likely enabled the virus to spread out easily. For example, a man Liu Jianlun from Guangzhou carried the virus to Hong Kong and spread it throughout the Metropole Hotel.[4] Other guests inhabiting the Metropole Hotel then spread the virus to other destinations. The first SARS patient in Singapore was present in the Metropole Hotel prior his arrival into the country.[5]
Development in Hong Kong
Hong Kong was the most severely affected by SARS (Graph 4). After it appeared in Hong Kong in mid-March, it quickly peaked to around 150 cases between late March and early April. Afterward, the cases fluctuated around several dozens of cases, quickly fell in late April and then stopped accumulating in June.
17% of Hong Kongers infected with SARS died. Because of the high population density in Hong Kong and citizens not being aware of hygiene issues at the beginning, the virus spread very quickly during the first stage. Then, due to the efficient quarantine policy in Amoy Garden and the effort of health care workers, SARS was effectively controlled and disappeared from the city.[6]
Conclusion
To conclude, although SARS spread to a lot of places, it was not so severe because of limited cases and ephemerality. But SARS still had a negative impact to social and economic development, especially in Hong Kong. Next, we will further discuss the impact that SARS brought to Hong Kong.
[1] “The original Sars virus disappeared – here’s why coronavirus won’t do the same,” The Conservation, accessed November 25, 2022, https://theconversation.com/the-original-sars-virus-disappeared-heres-why-coronavirus-wont-do-the-same-138177.
[2] “Air transport, passengers carried – Canada,” The World Bank, accessed November 25, 2022, https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IS.AIR.PSGR?locations=CA.
[3] “The historical plague 17 years ago: What happened when the SARS outbreak broke out?” PanSci, accessed November 25, 2022, https://pansci.asia/archives/178505.
[4] “Report of the Select Committee to inquire into the handling of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome outbreak by the Government and the Hospital Authority July 2004.” Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, accessed December 6, 2022, https://www.legco.gov.hk/yr03-04/english/sc/sc_sars/reports/sars_rpt.htm..
[5] “Singapore Woman Linked to 100 SARS Cases.” UCLA, accessed December 6, 2022, https://www.ph.ucla.edu/epi/bioter/singaporewomanSARS.html.
[6] “Director of Health issues isolation order,” Department of Health, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, accessed November 25, 2022,
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