Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
Epidemiology & Assessment

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is a newly recognized viral illness that first appeared in mainland China in November 2002. From November 2002 through August 2003, there were 8,422 cases of SARS reported worldwide with 916 deaths (11%). In the United States, eight (8) SARS cases were confirmed through laboratory testing, 2 of whom were from California. There were no confirmed or probable SARS cases in Orange County.

Because of the possibility that SARS will return, health organizations worldwide and in the United States are working together to plan for rapid recognition of the illness and for an appropriate response to limit its spread.

For more information:
www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars

Frequently Asked Questions about Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)

Information about Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) has been developing rapidly. In order to provide the most current information possible, the Health Care Agency encourages those interested to review the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's SARS website using the link below.

www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/basics.htm

SARS Information in Spanish, Vietnamese and Other Languages
www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/languages.htm

Additional Resources

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• SARS—Outpatient Guidance (pdf document)
• World Health Organization
  www.who.int/csr/sars/en
• New England Journal—SARS information (By subscription only)
  http://content.nejm.org/cgi/collection/sars
• California Department of Health Services www.dhs.ca.gov/ps/dcdc/disb/sars.htm