SARS or Severe acute respiratory syndrome is a respiratory illness that has been reported in Asia, North America and Europe and is caused by a special kind of virus called a coronavirus named SARS-Cov. It is very infectious which means it is easily spread from one person to another.
The virus remains active and is able to cease infection in both urine and feces for 24 to 48 hours. In the first week, the disease produce fever but few other symptoms. In the second week, pneumonia spread though the lungs.
In the third week, destruction of blood vessels occurred, which was fatal in many cases.
The overall mortality was 3%-6% of people infected, but mortality went up to 40% - 50% in certain area, when people older than 60 were infected.
The symptoms of SARS include high fever, headache, discomfort, body aches, dry cough and the development of pneumonia. SARS is spread by close contact involving respiratory droplets.
The first case of SARS was reported in Asia in February, 2003. In a few months, this disease spread in Europe, South and North America.
SARS
