Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
SARS
A new disease called SARS
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a respiratory illness that was first
reported in Asia in February 2003. In early March, the World Health Organization
(WHO) issued a global alert about SARS. Over the next few months, the illness
spread to more than two dozen countries in North America, South America, Europe
and Asia. By late July, however, no new cases were being reported and the
illness was considered contained. According to WHO, 8,437 people worldwide
became sick with SARS during the course of this outbreak. Of those people who
became sick, 813 died.
What are the symptoms and signs of SARS?
The clinical criteria for the diagnosis of SARS are:
- One or more signs or symptoms of respiratory illness including cough,
shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, hypoxia, or radiographic (X-ray)
findings of pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome AND
- Fever (>38° C [100.4° F]) AND
If I were exposed to SARS, how long would it take for me to become sick?
The
incubation period for SARS is typically 2-7 days; however, isolated reports have
suggested an incubation period as long as 10 days. The illness usually begins
with a fever (>100.4°F [>38.0°C]) (see signs and symptoms, above).
How is SARS spread?
The primary way that SARS appears to spread is by close person-to-person
contact. Most cases of SARS have involved people who cared for or lived with
someone with SARS, or people who had direct contact with infectious material
(for example, respiratory secretions) from a person with SARS. Potential ways in
which SARS can spread include touching the skin of other people or objects that
are contaminated with infectious droplets and then touching your eye(s), nose,
or mouth. This can happen when someone who is sick with SARS coughs or sneezes
droplets onto themselves, other people, or nearby surfaces.
It also is possible
that SARS may spread more broadly through the air or by other ways that are not
now known.
Next: Who got sick with SARS? »
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