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SARS - Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

What is Sars?

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome is more commonly known as SARS and is an illness that emerged in the Far East early in 2003. It first appeared in Southern China and then spread to Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore, Canada and more than 20 other countries.

It is thought to be linked to the common cold family of viruses called the Corona virus and has infected more than 3,000 people worldwide.

How can I get SARS?

SARS appears to be transmitted by close contact with an infected person, possibly carried in large droplets dispersed when the infected person sneezes or cough.

What are the symptons?

Sufferers develop a high temperature (more than 38 degrees), a dry cough and severe respiratory symptoms. Breathing problems are the most obvious symptoms with some sufferers being put on ventilators. Four in every hundred people who develop SARS die, although most deaths have been experienced by those who had pre-existing health problems or were part of the older generation.

How is it treated?

There was a vaccine being developed in 2004 for SARS. Sufferers were prior to this being given a combination of antibiotics and antiviral drugs which gives some improvement but the effectiveness was uncertain.

Where are the High Risk areas?

In March 2003, the World Health Organization advised people to restrict non-essential travel to Hong Kong or Guangdong with the UK government agreeing to this advice. This was only intended to be temporary advice until outbreaks in these locations were under control.the outbreaks died down naturally and now we have been troubled with the H1N1 virus.

Travellers should check the websites of the World Health Organization and, in the UK, either the Health Protection Agency or Foreign and Commonwealth Office for the latest advice.

If you return home from holiday or travelling and you think you have symptoms of any virus Like SARS or HINI Swine Flu then you should consult your doctor's surgery or, in the UK, phone NHS Direct on 0845 4647.