Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)
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Fact sheet - Health conditions directory.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is caused by a virus called SARS-associated coronavirus. The disease first appeared in southern China in late 2002, then spread to 28 other countries, with 774 deaths from more than 8,000 cases. Transmission occurred mainly in hospitals and among families and contacts of hospital workers. As a result of public health measures, SARS outbreaks were able to be controlled. The last reported case of SARS occurred in China in April 2004. It is difficult to predict if a SARS epidemic will recur.
Public health management guidelines
Notification
Pathology laboratories
Attending medical practitioners/medical superintendents (or delegates)
Notification resources
- List of all Pathological, clinical and provisional diagnosis notifiable conditions
- List of Public Health Unit contacts
- Notifiable conditions report form for Queensland doctors/clinicians (PHA S70) or person in charge of a Hospital (PHA S71) (PDF, 77kB) - if faxing notification, follow up by phone.
Enhanced surveillance for public health units
Case report form (PDF, 504kB) - used by public health units to collect and manage more detailed information for enhanced case surveillance.