What is SARS?
Symptoms
TreatmentHow do you avoid SARS? What is SARS?
SARS is a respiratory disease, caused by the coronovirus (SARS-CoV), which belongs to the same family of viruses as the common cold.
SARS-CoV is spread through close contact with an infected person - for example, it can be passed from an infected person to family members or health professionals – via droplets of body fluids from coughing or sneezing. It is most likely that these droplets are then transferred to surfaces, such as lift buttons, where the virus can linger for up to 24 hours. There is also speculation that SARS can be contracted within airplanes as it is an enclosed environment.
SARS appears to have originated in China in November 2002, and spread to Hong Kong in March 2003. The virus may have started in animals before being transmitted to humans. SARS has rapidly spread, partly because of the huge numbers of people who now travel frequently by air, to more than 26 countries to date, including Canada and the UK. The main concentrations of cases are in the Far East, in particular China, Hong Kong and Singapore, and Toronto in Canada. There has been no record ed outbreak of SARS since April 2004.
Sir Liam Donaldson, Chief Medical Officer in the UK, has said that the risk of catching SARS in the UK is 'very low'. Research to date indicates that anyone who comes into contact with SARS is equally likely to contract the condition - however, anyone with a weakened immune system will be more vulnerable.
The main symptoms of SARS include a very high temperature, severe cough and sore throat, shortness of breath, headache, muscle ache and in about 10% of people, diarrhea. Most affected people develop pneumonia. People infected by SARS-CoV usually develop symptoms between 2 and 7 days but they can develop up to 14 days following contact. To date ten per cent of victims have died as a result of contracting SARS.
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At the moment there is no known cure for SARS. Some people have responded to a combination of anti-viral medication and antibiotics. It is hoped that further research may allow doctors to be better prepared for any future epidemic and find a cure.
The Foreign Office, World Health Organisation and Department of Health all closely monitor outbreaks of SARS and advise on travel abroad. It is impossible to avoid SARS completely but caution can be taken when considering travelling to an affected area. Anyone with SARS-like symptoms who has returned from an affected area within the previous ten days should seek immediate medical advice.
Wearing a face mask may provide some protection but they must be clean and changed regularly. Frequent hand washing is also vital as droplets on the hand from sneezing or coughing can be transferred to communal surfaces where they maybe picked up by other people. Anyone who might have been exposed to SARS would benefit from taking plenty of vitamins, getting lots of sleep, and avoiding alcohol and crowded places.
You may also find the information at the following websites useful:
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Page last medically reviewed: Nov '07
