Severe acute respiratory syndrome: Emergence of a new pandemic

The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) pandemic depicted the vulnerability of man and tested our ability to respond to a global emergency. The SARS-coronavirus has been postulated to originate in animals and subsequently spread to and infect humans. It is transmissible via direct and indirect contact with infected persons or their environment. Poor infection control practices have been responsible for numerous outbreaks. In the human host, the virus can cause pulmonary sequelae and can result in death. Collaborative international efforts between health care workers and scientists led to the detection and isolation of the virus. Use of available antiviral therapies and implementation of strict infection control measures became pivotal for disease containment, as the discovery for new agents to eradicate the virus emerged. To date, novel preventative or curative medications and vaccines are lacking. Lessons learned from this pandemic must be remembered, as the emergence of another unknown infectious disease can occur instantaneously and, once again, endanger mankind.