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. The illness spread to more than two dozen countries in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia before the SARS global outbreak of 2003 was contained.
Since 2004, there have not been any known cases of SARS reported anywhere in the world. The content in this website was developed for the 2003 SARS epidemic. But some guidelines are still being used. Any new SARS updates will be posted on this website.
On October 5, 2012, the National Select Agent Registry Program published a final rule declaring SARS coronavirus a select agent.
A select agent is a bacterium, virus or toxin that has the potential to pose a severe threat to public health and safety.
This website is archived for historical purposes and is no longer being maintained or updated.