SARS

Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome

By James Reid and Alex Burningham

Origin/History of the Disease

• SARS was first identified in

November 2002 in the Guangdong
province of China.
• The first cases of SARS were
reported in November 2002, and
the outbreak rapidly spread to
other countries in East Asia,
Southeast Asia, and beyond.
• The SARS outbreak was declared
over by the World Health
Organization in July 2003, after
infecting more than 8,000 people
and causing over 700 deaths.
Transmission

• SARS is primarily transmitted

through respiratory droplets
produced when an infected
person talks, coughs, or sneezes.
• The virus can also be transmitted
through close personal contact,
such as shaking hands or hugging
• SARS can also be transmitted by
touching a surface or object
contaminated with the virus and
then touching your mouth, nose,
or eyes.
 Symptoms
Common symptoms of SARS:
• Fever
• Dry cough
• Difficulty breathing
• Body aches
• Fatigue
Prevention
How to prevent the spread of SARS:
• Wear a face mask if you are around others, especially if
you are in a healthcare setting or caring for someone
who is sick.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, or
use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your elbow
when you cough or sneeze.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with
unwashed hands.
Treatment/Cure
There is currently no specific treatment or cure for SARS
However, there are several things that can help reduce
the risk of SARS which include:
• Get plenty of rest and sleep.
• Drink fluids to stay hydrated.
• Use over-the-counter pain relievers, such as
acetaminophen or ibuprofen, to help relieve body
aches and fever.
• Avoid contact with others to prevent the spread of the
virus.
Site sources • CDC- https://www.cdc.gov/sars/index.html
• Wikipedia-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS#Outbreak_in_South_China