Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome [SARS-CoV-1]

PATHOGENS

• SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV-1). Respiratory pathogen with spread by airborne droplet transmission.
  • RNA enveloped virus; note that the coronavirus causing SARS is separate from those previously reported to cause human or animal illness.
  • First reported in SE Asia in February 2003. Last known human case in China, April 2004.
  • Declared a select agent by CDC (2012, select agent is a bacterium, virus or toxin that has the potential to pose a severe threat to public health and safety).
• Although coronavirus and metapneumovirus, and other bacterial and viral (influenza) pathogens have also been co-isolated from patients, SARS-CoV is considered the causative agent.
  • Human coronavirus (MERS-CoV) isolated in 2012 is not the infectious agent of SARS. See the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus module for additional details.
  • Novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 causing COVID-19 illness; see separate module for details.
    • Closely related genetically to SARS-CoV-1.
• Animal reservoir initially thought to be the civet cat; the latest information suggests the horseshoe bat is implicated in transmitting this infection to humans.