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Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
Michael Leonard
What is SARS?
•A viral respiratory illness caused
by a coronavirus, called SARSassociated coronavirus (SARSCoV)
•Single-stranded RNA
•First developed in animals
•Virus found in civets - a catlike wild animal eaten as a
delicacy in China
•First appeared in southern China
in November 2002
•Recognized as a global threat in
March 2003
Discovery of SARS
•First described on February 26, 2003
•WHO physician Dr. Carlo Urbani
•Diagnosed 48-year-old businessman traveling from
Guangdong, China, through Hong Kong, to Hanoi,
Vietnam
•Patient died, and Dr. Urbani subsequently died on
March 29, 2003 at age 46
SARS Outbreak of 2003
•According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an international outbreak,
which ended in July 2003, involved 26 countries, 8,098 cases, and 774 deaths.
How SARS Spreads
•Person-to-person-contact
•Infected person coughing or sneezing
•Respiratory droplets deposited on the mucous membranes of the
mouth, nose, or eyes of others nearby
•Touching a contaminated surface or object and then touching your
mouth, nose, or eyes
•Possible that SARS may be spread through the air or by other ways
that are not yet known
SARS Symptoms
High Fever
(≥100.4°F)
Headaches
Body Aches
Fatigue
Sore throat
Shortness of breath
Diarrhea
Dry cough
Pneumonia
SARS Testing
•Patient Testing
•Blood clotting tests
•Blood chemistries
•Chest X-ray or CT scan
•Complete blood count (CBC)
•Laboratory Testing
•Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test
for blood, stool, and nasal secretions
•Serologic testing to detect SARS-CoV antibodies
•Viral culture to detect SARS-CoV
SARS Treatment
•Antibiotics to treat bacterial causes of atypical pneumonia
•Antiviral medications
•Ribavirin
•Have had some but not much benefit
•Immunomodulatory drugs
•Interferon and corticosteroids increase the amount of oxygen in
the blood
•Steroids to reduce lung inflammation
•Oxygen, breathing support, or chest physiotherapy
**Other treatments have shown promise in in-vitro or animal models.
SARS Treatment
•1/3 (33%) of people with SARS become ill and then recover.
•Gets worse in 2/3 (67%) of patients and is likely to lead to hospitalization
•Risk of dying depends on age and health
•Greatest risk is people over 65 an those with chronic illnesses, such as
diabetes and heart disease
•9 out of 10 people infected with SARS recover.
•1 out of 10 people dies.
Prevention
•Wash your hands.
•Wear disposable gloves.
•Wear a surgical mask.
•Wash personal items.
•Disinfect surfaces.
Sources
“Fact Sheet: Basic Information About SARS.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. N.p., 3 May 2005. Web.
7 Mar. 2011. <http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/factsheet.htm>.
Kaufman, David A., M.D. “Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).” MedlinePlus. U.S. National Lib. of
Medicine,
National Inst. of Health, 2 Mar. 2009. Web. 7 Mar. 2011.
<http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007192.htm>.
Poutanen, Susan M., and Allison J. McGeer. “Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).” AccessScience. The
McGrawHill Companies, 2011. Web. 7 Mar. 2011. <http://0www.accessscience.com.sciron.cuyahoga.lib.oh.us/content.aspx?searchStr=Severe+acute+respiratory+sy
ndrome+(SARS)&id=YB051720>.
“Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and
Research
(MFMER), 6 Jan. 2011. Web. 7 Mar. 2011.
<http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sars/DS00501>.
“Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) - Overview.” WebMD. N.p., 13 July 2009. Web. 7 Mar. 2011.
<http://www.webmd.com/lung/tc/severe-acute-respiratory-syndrome-sars-overview>.
Thank You
Any Questions?