Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus, called SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV). SARS was first reported in Asia in February 2003. Over the next few months, the illness spread to more than two dozen countries in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. 

During April 2004, the Chinese Ministry of Health (MOH) reported a total of nine cases (one fatal) of SARS in China.  Two of the nine patients were graduate students who worked at National Institute of Virology Laboratory (NIVL) in Beijing, which is known to conduct research on SARS-CoV.  The NIVL was closed on April 23 and remains closed to date.  Possible sources of infection for the two laboratory workers, neither of whom is known to have worked directly with SARS-CoV, are being investigated.  Of the seven other SARS cases, two were directly linked to close contact with one of the graduate students who worked at NIVL; these two cases were the graduate student's mother (who died) and a nurse who provided care to the graduate student.  The remaining five cases were linked to close contact with the nurse.

No further cases of SARS in China or anywhere else in the world have been reported since April 29, 2004.  On May 18, the WHO reported on its website that the outbreak in China appears to have been contained, but that laboratory biosafety concerns remain and further investigation is under way. 

Because these are isolated cases with no evidence of person-to-person transmission, the U.S. guidelines and recommendations for SARS surveillance, evaluation, and reporting in the absence of SARS-CoV transmission still apply. 

CDC Health Alert Update (6/10/2004)

Case Definition

Frequently Asked Questions

Information for Healthcare Professionals

December 10th SARS Video Conference Slides 

CDC SARS Information

World Health Organization SARS Information