The Hindu : How it spreads

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 04, 2003

Opinion

Opinion - News Analysis

How it spreads

SEVERE ACUTE Respiratory Syndrome is caused by a virus, which, according to the World Health Organisation, has long existed in both humans and animals. Many believe the SARS virus is a mutant of the existing coronavirus. It surfaced in China six months ago and the WHO rang the alarm bells on March 15, 2003. And by the time it was identified (April 16, 2003), the virus had claimed 260 lives and infected 4,400 people globally.

Some thought that SARS might have been caused by paramyxovirus (which belongs to the measles, rubella, mumps family) or chlamydia (a bacteria). Another theory was that both paramyxovirus and coronavirus must infect the host before SARS manifests itself. But, say WHO officials, it has now been proved that coronavirus alone is responsible for SARS. In humans, it starts as mild common cold.

Contrary to what many believe, the virus is not easily transmitted. It spreads from droplets emitted while coughing, or through close or face-to-face contact. Door-knobs, tables or other articles of common use can be tainted by those infected. But this mode of transmission is rare, says WHO.

The coronavirus throws up symptoms similar to flu, say doctors. It brings along fever, dry cough and body ache. SARS can develop into pneumonia, cause difficulty in breathing, and prove fatal. Symptoms appear up to 10 days later and the virus lasts just four hours outside the body. Also, if someone is incubating or recovering from the disease, transmission is very unlikely, according to the available epidemiological evidence.

— B.S.P.

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