Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

What is SARS?
  • A viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus, called the SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV).
    • Coronavirus – group of similar viruses, some of which cause the common cold.
    • Appearance of a virus particle surrounded by a crown gives its name.
  • SARS-CoV has distinct genetic and antigen features from other human coronaviruses.