SARS

Editor's note: This story was revised Apr 1, 2004, to include additional information from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

(CIDRAP News) – An experimental vaccine developed by federal researchers prevented the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) coronavirus from reproducing in laboratory mice, according to a report published in the Apr 1 issue of Nature.

(CIDRAP News) – Dutch researchers report that they have discovered a new human coronavirus—a close relative of the agent of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)—that causes respiratory illness in infants and immunocompromised adults.

(CIDRAP News) – A study in which mice developed antibodies to the SARS coronavirus indicates that efforts to make a SARS vaccine that would trigger the production of antibodies are on the right track, according to federal health officials.

(CIDRAP News) – The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed concern about China's handling of its fourth recent case of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), which involved a 40-year-old physician and hospital director and was revealed Jan 31.

(CIDRAP News) – Chinese authorities have approved the first human trial of a SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) vaccine, Chinese state news agencies reported yesterday.

(CIDRAP News) – Chinese authorities said laboratory tests have confirmed two previously suspected cases of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) in Guangdong Province, but the World Health Organization (WHO) said more test results are needed for full confirmation.

(CIDRAP News) – World Health Organization (WHO) investigators have found evidence that may link one of the suspected SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) cases in southern China to civets, according to news reports from the region.

(CIDRAP News) – Federal health officials today announced a ban on the importation of civets into the United States because of the suspicion that the animals can spread the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) virus to people.

(CIDRAP News) – A 35-year-old man in Guangdong Province has China's third suspected case of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) since the global outbreaks ended last summer, Chinese officials said today.

The man fell ill with a fever Dec 31 and was sent to a hospital Jan 6, according to Xinhua, China's state news agency. He was transferred to No. 8 People's Hospital of Guangzhou Jan 9 and is recovering there, the report said.

(CIDRAP News) – The 2003-2004 influenza season may already be past its peak, but it has claimed the lives of 93 children, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported today.