Organism

Severe acute respiratory syndrome—coronavirus A (SARS-CoA)

First reported in Southern China in 2002; by mid-2003 over 8500 cases had been reported with nearly 800 deaths.

Identified in 2003 as a coronavirus; infection originates from wildlife (eg, civets and other mammals).

Highly infectious, spread by close person-to-person contact.

SARS-CoA virus infection rapidly spread around the world before being controlled by public health intervention strategies.