SARS

Introduction. 

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a respiratory infection caused by a novel respiratory virus in the coronavirus family. It caused an outbreak in 2003 that killed 774 people out of 8096 cases. No cases have been reported since then.

Summary

• Cause: SARS coronavirus
• Microscopy: enveloped ssRNA virus with club-shaped glycoprotein spikes
• Symptoms: severe flu-like, with chills, high fever, headache, dizzyness
• Transmission: Respiratory, close contact
• Complications: Mortality of ~10%
• Pathogenesis: respiratory tract infection leading to pneumonia
• Treatment: supportive

References/Links

1. http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/health/03/travel_health/diseases/img/sars.jpg
2. http://www.who.int/csr/sars/country/table2004_04_21/en/
3. http://www.cdc.gov/sars/