SARS 2003

About SARS 2003

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome SARS was caused by the SARS coronavirus, first identified in Guangdong province, China, in November 2002. The virus spread to Hong Kong in February 2003 and then globally through air travel, reaching 29 countries. The WHO issued a global alert on March 12, 2003. Toronto, Canada, experienced a significant outbreak. The WHO declared the outbreak contained in July 2003, after approximately 8,000 cases and 774 deaths. The case fatality rate was approximately 10 percent. SARS was contained through traditional public health measures including isolation, quarantine, and contact tracing. The virus was traced to civet cats sold in live animal markets, with bats as the natural reservoir. No SARS vaccine was ever licensed. The 2003 outbreak demonstrated both the vulnerability of global health systems to emerging infections and the effectiveness of traditional containment measures. SARS research advanced coronavirus vaccine science, which contributed to the rapid COVID vaccine response in 2020.