Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome - Essay Example

Signs and Symptoms: Initial symptoms with coronavirus (SARS-CoV) encompass flu-like fever, Myalgia, lethargy, gastrointestinal symptoms, cough, sore throat, and other vague symptoms. The symptoms common to all patients are fever above 38 C, shortness of breath. Symptoms do not occur immediately but appear within 2-10 days following exposure and about 10-20% cases require mechanical ventilation.History: Infection by SARS-CoV (called SARS-associated coronavirus) was first identified in Hong Kong, US, and Germany (Ksiazek, Drosten, Peiris 2003a, Poutanen).

It was first observed in the Chinese province of Guangdong and was internationally reported on 11th February 2003 (WHO, WER 11/ 2003). Initially, it was assumed to be associated with a newly emerged influenza virus. On 19th February 2003, an avian influenza A (H5N1) was isolated from a child in Hong Kong by researchers, which was found to be similar to the influenza virus-derived to be of avian origin, but since the bird 'flu' is of poultry origin hence the new name was provided to the virus as SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) (Preiser and Drosten, Virology).

On 17th March 2003, the WHO contacted 11 laboratories in 9 countries to join the network for multicentre research for the etiology of SARS and to formulate its diagnosis (WHO). The Breakthrough: In late March 2003, the etiological agent of SARS was identified when isolation of the virus was done on cell culture and demonstrated by electron microscopy, then genome sequence was performed using PCR and also Microarray was used for complete formulation. An immunofluorescent antibody test was done (Peiris, Drosten, Ksiazek).

On 16th April 2003, WHO announced, SARS virus to be a coronavirus as it met all the four postulates of Koch; these results are based on the research carried out in 13 participating laboratories.Transmission: The SARS coronavirus (SARS Co-V) is predominantly spread in droplets that are shed from the respiratory secretions of infected persons. Fecal or airborne transmission seems to be less frequent.