Background Information/Recent Outbreak

SARS originated in Guangdong Province, China in February 2002.  Because of the cultural and exotic cuisine practices in the area, it brings animals and humans closer together. In such an enclosed area, pathogens can easily genetically mutate and leap from animals to humans. This is how SARS came to be.

The index case was a 64 year old psychiatrist name Liu Jianlun. He lived in Guangdong Province where he contracted SARS. He infected his patients and coworkers.

Jianlun was invited to his family's wedding in Hong Kong despite having a fever. Guests that were at the same hotel as him caught SARS. Jianlun spread SARS to a different country.

People in Asia wear surgical masks to
protect themselves from catching SARS.

Eventually, hundreds of people caught SARS in China and Hong Kong. Those people brushed off their sickness and traveled by airplane to other countries, including the United States and Canada. 

Thousands of people became infected, and officials initially ignored the problem. When they realized the situation had gotten out of hand, WHO took steps to prevent SARS from spreading anymore. First, WHO issued warnings about traveling to other countries. Then, they encouraged isolation procedures and alerts to suspected cases. After that, WHO recommended increased screening and quarantine. Next, WHO recommended against nonessential travel to China.

In the middle of 2003, there were no more reported cases of SARS. It was gone after only a year. A recorded total of 8,272 people were infected with SARS.