Cited by 361Disaster Response and ManagementViral Infections and Outbreaks ResearchPublic Health Policies and Education

Is There a Case for Quarantine? Perspectives from SARS to Ebola

Open access
Barbisch, Donna, Koenig, Kristi L, Shih, Fuh-Yuan·2015·Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness

Abstract

Quarantine has been used for centuries in an effort to prevent the introduction, transmission, and spread of communicable diseases. While backed by legal authority, the public and even the health care worker community’s understanding of the term is murky at best and scientific evidence to support the use of quarantine is frequently lacking. The multiple interpretations and references to quarantine, the inconsistent application of public health quarantine laws across jurisdictional boundaries, and reports of ineffectiveness are further complicated by associated infringement of civil liberties and human rights abuses. Given the need to balance public safety with human rights, we must be more precise about the meaning of quarantine and consider the efficacy and negative secondary effects resulting from its implementation. This article explains quarantine terminology and then uses a case study from Taiwan during the 2002–2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak to illustrate the key principles associated with quarantine measures taken during the 2014 Ebola outbreak and the potential hazards that can arise from quarantines. Finally, we provide a quarantine and isolation decision tree to assist policy makers and public health officials in applying medically defensible, outcomes-based data and legal authorities to optimize management of emerging infectious diseases. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2015;9:547–553)

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Crossref · 10.1017/dmp.2015.38

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Authors
Barbisch, D., Koenig, K. L., & Shih, F.-Y.
Affiliations
University of California, Irvine (US)
Corresponding author
Barbisch, Donna
Venue
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness
Published
2015-03-23
Volume
9
Issue
5
Pages
547-553
ISSN
  • 1935-7893 (ISSN-L)
  • 1938-744X
OpenAlex
W2109525459
Cited by
361
References
13
Citations by year
2025: 9 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 32 · 2022: 64 · 2021: 114 · 2020: 100 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 5
FWCI
12.09
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Emergency Medical Services › Disaster Response and Management
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Public Health Policies and Education
Keywords
quarantine, isolation, SARS, Ebola, emerging infectious diseases, public health law, civil liberties, human rights, quarantine effectiveness, 2014 West Africa Ebola outbreak, Taiwan
MeSH terms
Communicable Disease Control, Disease Outbreaks, Humans, Public Health, Quarantine, Taiwan, Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

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