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Basic Information About SARS
What is SARS?
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a respiratory illness that
has recently been reported in Asia, North America, and Europe. This page
provides basic information about the disease and what is being done to
combat its spread.
Symptoms of SARS
In general, SARS begins with a fever greater than 100.4°F [>38.0°C].
Other symptoms may include headache, an overall feeling of discomfort,
and body aches. Some people also experience mild respiratory symptoms.
After 2 to 7 days, SARS patients may develop a dry cough and have trouble
breathing.
How SARS spreads
The primary way that SARS appears to spread is by close person-to-person
contact. Most cases of SARS have involved people who cared for or lived
with someone with SARS, or had direct contact with infectious material
(for example, respiratory secretions) from a person who has SARS. Potential
ways in which SARS can be spread include touching the skin of other people
or objects that are contaminated with infectious droplets and then touching
your eye(s), nose, or mouth. This can happen when someone who is sick
with SARS coughs or sneezes droplets onto themselves, other people, or
nearby surfaces. It also is possible that SARS can be spread more broadly
through the air or by other ways that are currently not known.
Possible cause of SARS
Scientists at CDC and other laboratories have detected a previously unrecognized
coronavirus in patients with SARS. The new coronavirus is the leading
hypothesis for the cause of SARS.
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