Coronavirus as a possible cause of severe acute respiratory syndrome.

ABSTRACT:

Background

An outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) has been reported in Hong Kong. We investigated the viral cause and clinical presentation among 50 patients.

Methods

We analysed case notes and microbiological findings for 50 patients with SARS, representing more than five separate epidemiologically linked transmission clusters. We defined the clinical presentation and risk factors associated with severe disease and investigated the causal agents by chest radiography and laboratory testing of nasopharyngeal aspirates and sera samples. We compared the laboratory findings with those submitted for microbiological investigation of other diseases from patients whose identity was masked.

Findings

Patients' age ranged from 23 to 74 years. Fever, chills, myal

SUBMITTER: Peiris JS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7112372 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature