SARS coronavirus

See also: Progress of the SARS outbreak and Severe acute respiratory syndrome.

Related Topics:
Progress of the SARS outbreak - Severe acute respiratory syndrome

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On April 16 2003, following the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Asia and secondary cases elsewhere in the world, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a press release stating that the coronavirus identified by a number of laboratories was the official cause of SARS. The virus was officially named the SARS coronavirus.

Related Topics:
April 16 - 2003 - Severe acute respiratory syndrome - Asia - World Health Organization - Coronavirus

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On April 12, 2003, scientists working around the clock at the Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia finished mapping the genetic sequence of a coronavirus believed to be linked to SARS. The team was lead by Dr. Marco Marra and worked in collaboration with the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control and the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg, Manitoba, using samples from infected patients in Toronto. The map, hailed by the WHO as an important step forward in fighting SARS, is shared with scientists worldwide via the GSC website (see below).

Related Topics:
April 12 - 2003 - Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre - Vancouver, British Columbia - Genetic sequence - Marco Marra - British Columbia - Winnipeg, Manitoba - Toronto

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Dr. Donald Low of Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto described the discovery as having been made with "unprecedented speed." http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/04/12/sars_code030412

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The sequence of the SARS coronavirus has since been confirmed by other independent groups.

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