SARS: When a Global Outbreak Hits Home

Lessons Learned

  • SARS is a serious, febrile respiratory illness with potential for rapid global spread
  • Control of SARS requires swift and bold response
  • Clinical features of SARS are non-specific
  • Laboratory tests do not reliably detect SARS early in course of disease
  • Diagnosis should be guided by history of potential exposure to SARS
  • SARS can be controlled by basic control strategies