Current status of severe acute respiratory syndrome in China

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS),also calledinfectious atypical pneumonia,is an emerging infectiousdisease caused by a novel variant of coronavirus (SAPS-associated coronavirus,SAPS-CoV).It is mainly characterizedby pulmonary infection with a high infectivity and fatality.SAPS is swept across almost all the continents of the globe,and has currently involved 33 countries and regions,includingthe China’s mainland,Hong Kong,Taiwan,North America andEurope.On ]une 30,2003,an acumulative total reached8450 cases with 810 deaths.SARS epidemic was veryrampant in March,April and May 2003 in the mainland ofChina and Hong Kong.Chinese scientists and healthcareworkers cooperated closely with other scientists from all overthe world to fight the disease.On April 16,2003,WorldHealth Organization (WHO) formally declared that SAPS-CoY was an etiological agent of SARS.Currently,there is nospecific and effective therapy and prevention method forSAPS.The main treatments include corticosteroid therapy,anti-viral agents,anti-infection,mechanical ventilation andisolation.This disease can be prevented and controlled,andit is also curable.Under the endeavor of the ChineseGovernment,medical staffs and other related professionals,SARS has been under control in China,and Chinesescientists have also made a great contribution to SARSresearch.Other studies in developing new detection assaysand therapies,and discovering new drugs and vaccinesare in progress.In this paper,we briefly review the currentstatus of SARS in China.