What Is SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome)?

SARS (SARS-CoV-1) was a respiratory illness that spread in many countries around the world in 2002 and 2003. For many people, SARS caused flu-like symptoms (like fever and headache). But it progressed to severe illness in about 1 to 2 out of every 10 people (10% to 20%) during the outbreak.

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More than 8,000 people in 29 countries had SARS between 2002 and 2003. There was a small outbreak related to occupational exposure in 2004. Preventive measures stopped its spread, and only nine people were infected. There haven’t been any reported cases since then.