Syndrome respiratoire aigu sévère : une épidémie singulière de pneumonie virale

INFECTIOUS AGENT: The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a febrile pneumonia initially observed in China at the end of 2002. The infectious agent has rapidly been identified as a new coronavirus, baptised SARS-associated coronavirus (CoV-SARS). Transmission is inter-human, via respiratory particles mainly. CLINICAL PRESENTATION AND TREATMENT: The clinical presentation is highly variable, from a mild fever to an acute respiratory distress syndrome. There is no specific treatment. Ribavirin associated with steroids have been used with success in numerous cases. EPIDEMIOLOGY: During the first half of 2003, the spreading of the virus has been very fast, with a pandemic mode of evolution. More than 8 000 people were infected and 774 died. The reservoir of the virus, which may be animal, is still unknown. The epidemic seems to be controlled, but sporadic or epidemic re-emergences may occur and have been observed in China duting January 2004.