Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
SARS is a respiratory illness that has recently been reported in Asia, North America, and Europe.
The illness usually begins with a fever (measured temperature greater than 100.4°F [>38.0°C]). The fever is sometimes associated with chills or other symptoms, including headache, general feeling of discomfort, and body aches. Some people also experience mild respiratory symptoms at the outset.
After 2 to 7 days, SARS patients may develop a dry, nonproductive cough that might be accompanied by or progress to the point where insufficient oxygen is getting to the blood. In 10% to 20% of cases, patients will require mechanical ventilation.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 greater than 100.4°F (38.0°C).
What medical treatment is recommended for patients with SARS?
The CDC (Center's For Disease Control) currently recommends that patients with SARS receive the same treatment that would be used for any patient with serious community-acquired atypical pneumonia of unknown cause. Several treatment regimens have been used for patients with SARS, but there is insufficient information at this time to determine if they have had a beneficial effect. Reported therapeutic regimens have included antibiotics to presumptively treat known bacterial agents of atypical pneumonia. Therapy also has included antiviral agents such as oseltamivir or ribavirin. Steroids also have been administered orally or intravenously to patients in combination with ribavirin and other antimicrobials.
How is SARS spread? The principal way SARS appears to be spread is through droplet transmission; namely, when someone sick with SARS coughs or sneezes droplets into the air and someone else breathes them in. It is possible that SARS can be transmitted more broadly through the air or from objects that have become contaminated.
How long is a person with SARS infectious to others? Information to date suggests that people are most likely to be infectious when they have symptoms, such as fever or cough. However, it is not known how long before or after their symptoms begin that patients with SARS might be able to transmit the disease to others.
Who is most at risk of contracting SARS?
Cases of SARS continue to be reported primarily among people who have had direct close contact with an infected person, such as those sharing a household with a SARS patient and health care workers who did not use infection control procedures while caring for a SARS patient. In the United States, there is no indication of community transmission at this time.
What is the cause of SARS? Scientists at CDC and other laboratories have detected a previously unrecognized coronavirus in patients with SARS. While the new coronavirus is still the leading hypothesis for the cause of SARS, other viruses are still under investigation as potential causes.
What are coronaviruses? Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that have a halo or crown-like (corona) appearance when viewed under a microscope. These viruses are a common cause of mild to moderate upper-respiratory illness in humans and are associated with respiratory, gastrointestinal, liver and neurologic disease in animals. Coronaviruses can survive in the environment for as long as three hours.
What evidence is there to suggest that coronaviruses may be linked with SARS? CDC scientists were able to isolate a virus from the tissues of two patients who had SARS and then used several laboratory methods to characterize the agent. Examination by electron microscopy revealed that the virus had the distinctive shape and appearance of coronaviruses. Tests of serum specimens from patients with SARS showed that the patients appeared to have recently been infected with this coronavirus. Other tests demonstrated that coronavirus was present in a variety of clinical specimens from patients, including nose and throat swabs. In addition, genetic analysis suggests that this new virus belongs to the family of coronaviruses but differs from previously identified coronaviruses. These laboratory results do not provide conclusive evidence that the new coronavirus is the cause of SARS. Additional specimens are being tested to learn more about this coronavirus and its link with SARS.
If coronaviruses usually cause mild illness in humans, how could this new coronavirus be responsible for a potentially life-threatening disease such as SARS? There is not enough information about the new virus to determine the full range of illness that it might cause. Coronaviruses have occasionally been linked to pneumonia in humans, especially people with weakened immune systems. The viruses can also cause severe disease in animals, including cats, dogs, pigs, mice, and birds.
Has new information about coronavirus changed the recommendations for medical treatment for patients with SARS? The possibility that coronavirus is the cause of SARS has not changed treatment recommendations. The new coronavirus is being tested against various antiviral drugs to see if an effective treatment can be found.
Is there a test for SARS? No "test" is available yet for SARS; however, CDC, in collaboration with WHO and other laboratories, has developed 2 research tests that appear to be very promising in detecting antibodies to the new coronavirus. CDC is working to refine and share this testing capability as soon as possible with laboratories across the United States and internationally.
What about reports from other laboratories suggesting that the cause of SARS may be a paramyxovirus? Researchers from several laboratories participating in the WHO network have reported the identification of a paramyxovirus in clinical specimens from SARS patients. These laboratories are still investigating the possibility that a paramyxovirus is a cause of SARS.
How many cases of SARS have been reported so far?
Visit WHO's SARS page for daily updates on case reports in the United States and other countries. To date, most of the cases have been reported from China.
How many people have died from SARS? Visit WHO's SARS page for a daily update of SARS cases and deaths.
What is CDC doing to combat this health threat?
| CDC is working closely with WHO and other partners as part of a global collaboration to address the SARS outbreak. For its part in this international effort, CDC has taken the following actions: |
| Activated its Emergency Operations Center to provide round-the-clock coordination and response. |
| Committed more than 160 infectious disease experts and support staff to work on the SARS response. |
| Deployed medical officers, epidemiologists, and other specialists to assist with on-site investigations around the world. |
| Provided ongoing assistance to state and local health departments in investigating possible cases of SARS in the United States. |
| Issued multiple notices providing guidance on ways to minimize the risk for SARS in health care facilities, in the household, when traveling, and in other settings. |
| Conducted extensive laboratory testing of clinical specimens from SARS patients to identify the cause of the disease. |
| Initiated a system for distributing health alert notices to travelers who may have been exposed to cases of SARS. |
What should I do if I think I have SARS? If you are ill with a fever of over 100.4°F [>38.0°C] that is accompanied by a cough or difficulty breathing or that progresses to a cough and/or difficulty breathing, you should consult a health care provider. To help your health care provider make a diagnosis, tell him or her about any recent travel to regions where cases of SARS have been reported and whether you were in contact with someone who had these symptoms.
What is Kadlec Medical Center doing in response to SARS? We are developing protocols for patient care as well as educational materials to educate staff and physicians about the care of SARS patients. We are also working closely with the Benton/Franklin Health District to develop community response plans for dealing with this disease. Should cases of SARS be identified at Kadlec Medical Center we will work closely with Public Health officials to prevent spread of this disease.
For further information please check the CDC webpage at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/
