Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a viral respiratory illness caused by a corona virus. SARS was first reported in Asia in February 2003. Over the next few months, the illness spread to more than two dozen countries in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia before the SARS global outbreak of 2003. The main way that SARS seems to spread is by close person-to-person contact, or is thought to be transmitted when an infected person coughs …showed first 75 words of 1094 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1094 total…world's highest infection rate outside mainland China. Since the outbreak began in March, Hong Kong has recorded 184 deaths and 1 629 infections from SARS - a death rate of 11:29 percent. Some experts have predicted the death rate may rise as high as 20 percent. Hospital Authority director Ko Wing-man told the Post: "For the first time in Hong Kong, public Western hospitals will incorporate Chinese medicine in the treatment of patients. This is a historic breakthrough." - Sapa-DPA.