SARS outbreak

The 2002–2004 global outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by SARS-CoV. First recognized in China, it spread internationally before public-health measures contained transmission.

SARS-CoV: A coronavirus that caused severe acute respiratory syndrome in the 2002–2004 outbreak. This virus caused the outbreak and moved between people mainly through respiratory droplets and close contact.
Foshan: A city in Guangdong province, China, associated with early cases of SARS in 2002. Early recognized cases in the region preceded the outbreak’s wider spread.
Hotel Metropole SARS cluster: A Hong Kong hotel cluster in 2003 that seeded SARS cases in several countries. An infected guest’s stay connected local transmission to international outbreaks.
International Health Regulations: A binding international framework for detecting and responding to public-health risks that may cross borders. The outbreak exposed weaknesses in international reporting and helped spur revision of the regulations.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome: A severe respiratory illness characterized by fever and, often, pneumonia. The disease’s clinical course shaped case recognition, isolation, and hospital infection control.
Guangdong: A province in southern China bordering Hong Kong. The outbreak emerged in Guangdong before cases appeared in Hong Kong and elsewhere.
Toronto SARS outbreak: A major Canadian SARS outbreak in 2003, with substantial transmission in hospitals. Toronto illustrated how imported infections could trigger extended healthcare-associated spread.
Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network: A WHO-coordinated network that mobilizes expertise and resources for international outbreak response. SARS demonstrated the need for rapid coordination across countries and institutions.
Respiratory droplet transmission: Spread of infectious particles released from the respiratory tract, especially at close range. Close-range exposure helped explain transmission in households and healthcare settings.
Zhong Nanshan: A Chinese respiratory physician who helped identify SARS and communicate its risks. His public statements helped clarify the nature and severity of the illness in Guangdong.

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Hu ShuliRelated: Caijing’s reporting on the epidemic demonstrated the public value of independent scrutiny.