“A GLOBAL ALERT”

The much talked about ‘SARS’ , has created panic all over the world. It is hyped by the media who pour voluminous material on SARS everyday in the newspapers. It is mandatory now for every clinician, health care providers and common man to know everything about SARS. What is SARS all about?  

SARS is an emerging viral infectious disease. A flu-like illness, followed by a typical pneumonia and a high case fatality rate have been its characteristics. It was first reported in Guangdong province, China, in November 2002. the largest outbreak to date began in Singapore in mid March 2003 and was traced to a traveler returning from Hong Kong.

The syndrome needs to be addressed to for multiple reasons viz;

1. Firstly, it’s a new entity.
   
    

2. It’s a highly communicable disease with high case fatality and is manifest as a trans-continental Epidemic.
   
    

3. It has proven a major occupational hazard for health care providers
   
    

4. It has potential to tax hospital services beyond their capacity.
    

Thus its emergence promoted the WHO to issue the first "GLOBAL HEALTH ALERT" for over a decade, on March 15th 2003. an emergency travel advisory was set up. The Director general of WHO, Dr. Gro Harlem Brund Hand, stated that 'This syndrome is now a world-wide health threat and the world needs to work together to find its cause, cure the sick stop its spread”.  More than 7,956 cases have been reported from 28 countries taking a toll of 666 people. Areas with current documented or suspected community transmission of SARS include China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Canada & Vietnam. India was also an affected country with 3 probable cases including 2 cases in Bangalore. It is believed by some workers in India, that Indians have some immunity against this virus, thus preventing widespread transmission. Even though many people have traveled and returned from these countries, so far no case is definitely proved to be a case of SARS in India.