SARS
(Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome · Atypical Pneumonia)
In this condition factsheet:
The Facts on SARS
SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) is a severe pneumonia-like respiratory disease that first came to worldwide attention in southeast Asia in February 2003.
Pneumonia is a general term for an inflammation of the air sacs of the lungs caused by an infection or chemical. With pneumonia, the lungs fill with fluid, which interferes with their ability to transfer oxygen to the blood. SARS is known as an atypical pneumonia because it is not caused by the usual bacteria or viruses.
SARS causes high fever, severe breathing problems, and flu-like symptoms. Over 8,000 cases were reported worldwide during the 2003 outbreak. In Canada, about 10% of those infected with SARS died from the disease.
Putting things into perspective, the flu currently causes an estimated 250,000 to 500,000 deaths worldwide each year and as many as 2,000 to 8,000 Canadians die each year from flu and its complications. In contrast, during the SARS outbreak in 2003, there were 8,098 probable cases and 774 deaths from SARS worldwide. Since the outbreak, a few cases were reported in 2004 (from laboratory exposure), but no cases have been reported since.
Causes of SARS
A virus called coronavirus is the cause of SARS. There are many kinds of coronavirus, some of which cause the common cold. The SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) was a new variant that may have been transmitted to humans from animals.
How SARS spreads is not completely understood, but experts believe that the main way it spreads is through close contact with an infected person (someone who has cared for or lived with the person, or has had direct contact with their respiratory secretions and body fluids). The virus seems to be spread through aerosolized (exhaled) droplets and body secretions. You can come into contact with these materials when an infected person coughs or sneezes. You may also pick up the virus from surfaces such as doorknobs and elevator buttons.
Some experts believe that SARS may also be spread when fecal matter containing the virus is ingested (e.g., due to poor sewage treatment, contaminated food or water).
Most if not all cases of SARS in Canada during the 2003 outbreak occurred in:
- people who had recently travelled to Asia
- health care workers who had cared for SARS patients
- close family members of SARS patients
Symptoms and Complications of SARS
The main symptoms of SARS are:
- high fever (over 38°C or 100.4°F)
- dry cough, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing
Usually, the fever appears first. Muscle aches, chills, headaches, sore throat, and diarrhea can often occur. About 1 or 2 days after these first symptoms, a dry cough and shortness of breath appear. Most people start to recover after 6 to 7 days.
However, some people go on to develop very severe breathing problems and may need the help of a machine (a ventilator) to help them breathe. The risk of dying from SARS is higher for this group. People over 50 and those with other medical conditions (e.g., heart problems, diabetes) are more likely to develop severe breathing problems.
