Get the Facts About SARS In a New Online Publication

Format: Fact Sheet
Institute: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a new infectious disease first identified in humans in early 2003. Worldwide, 8,000 probable cases were identified that year, and approximately 774 deaths resulted. In the U.S., 8 cases were confirmed, none of them fatal.

The virus that causes SARS spreads primarily by close human contact. The disease typically begins with flu-like symptoms, and most people subsequently develop pneumonia. Intensive and supportive medical care is the primary therapy; no specific treatment has yet been shown to consistently improve the outcome.

NIAID has published an updated fact sheet on SARS, called NIAID Research on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). It describes what SARS is, what research NIAID is doing, and how the infection spreads. This resource also describes what is being done to develop a SARS vaccine.

Next Steps
You can read the fact sheet about SARS by visiting www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/sars.htm.