Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars)

SARS, a contagious lung disease, can be serious and even deadly. It first appeared in China in 2002. Quickly, people traveling around the world unknowingly spread the virus.

This showed how easily diseases can travel across the globe in our modern, connected world. However, scientists and doctors from many countries worked together to stop the spread of SARS. Since 2004, there have been no known cases of SARS anywhere in the world.

SARS often starts with symptoms similar to the flu. These initial symptoms might include a fever, shivering, body aches, headaches, and sometimes diarrhea.

About a week later, the illness might progress to include:

• A temperature of 100.5°F (38°C) or higher
• A persistent cough without mucus
• Difficulty breathing or feeling short of breath.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is a serious illness that can be deadly. If you're feeling sick with any signs of a respiratory infection, like a cough or difficulty breathing, or if you have flu-like symptoms like fever after traveling to another country, it's crucial to see a doctor immediately. This is important because early diagnosis and treatment can improve your chances of recovery.

SARS, or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, is a disease caused by a type of coronavirus. Coronaviruses are a common family of viruses, some of which cause the typical symptoms of a cold. Before SARS, these viruses weren't usually a major health concern for people.

However, coronaviruses can make animals very sick. This led scientists to think the SARS virus might have jumped from animals to humans. It's now believed the SARS virus likely developed from an animal virus, or several animal viruses, and changed into a new, more dangerous form for humans.

People most likely to get SARS are those who have been in close contact with someone already sick with SARS. This includes family members and healthcare workers who are caring for patients. Essentially, close, prolonged exposure to an infected person significantly increases the risk of catching the virus.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) can cause pneumonia in many people. This pneumonia can lead to serious breathing problems that sometimes require a machine to help a person breathe, called a ventilator. In some cases, SARS can be deadly, often because the lungs stop working properly. Other problems that can occur include issues with the heart and liver.

Older adults, particularly those who have health problems like diabetes or hepatitis, are more likely to have severe complications from SARS. These underlying health conditions can make the body more vulnerable to the serious effects of the virus.

Scientists are developing different types of vaccines for SARS, but none have been tested on people yet. If a SARS outbreak happens again, here's how to protect yourself while caring for someone who might have it:

Protecting Yourself:

• Wash your hands often: Use soap and warm water, or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. This is very important for preventing the spread of germs.
• Use disposable gloves: Put on gloves if you're going to touch the sick person's body fluids, like sweat, spit, or their poop. Take off the gloves right away and wash your hands thoroughly.
• Wear a mask: Cover your mouth and nose with a surgical mask whenever you're in the same room as someone with SARS. Wearing glasses might also help a little.
• Clean personal items: Wash things like dishes, towels, bedding, and clothes of the sick person with soap and hot water. This helps remove germs.
• Clean surfaces: Use a household disinfectant cleaner on any surfaces that might have been touched by the sick person's sweat, saliva, mucus, vomit, poop, or pee. Always wear gloves while cleaning and throw them away after use.

How Long to Take Precautions:

It's important to follow these safety steps for at least 10 days after the sick person stops showing symptoms. If a child develops a fever or breathing problems within 10 days of being around someone with SARS, keep them home from school.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was a serious illness that appeared in the past. Early on, there were no specific tests to quickly and easily identify the virus. However, doctors now have several different lab tests available to diagnose SARS. Importantly, there have been no confirmed cases of SARS anywhere in the world since 2004.