The World Health Organization officially release a global warning of outbreaks of Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)

In 2003, the world was gripped by a global health crisis known as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). SARS was caused by a coronavirus known as SARS-CoV, which is closely related to the virus responsible for COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2. The outbreak originated in the Guangdong province of southern China in late 2002 and quickly spread to other parts of the world.

The global warning about the outbreaks of SARS in 2003 was largely due to the rapid spread of the virus and the severity of the illness it caused. SARS was characterized by symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, and in severe cases, pneumonia. The disease had a relatively high mortality rate, particularly among older individuals and those with underlying health conditions.

One of the significant aspects of the 2003 SARS outbreak was the global response to contain the spread of the virus. International health organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), worked closely with governments around the world to implement measures such as travel restrictions, quarantine protocols, and public health campaigns to raise awareness about the disease.

The SARS outbreak eventually subsided by mid-2003, largely due to the implementation of rigorous public health measures and the development of effective diagnostic tools. However, the experience with SARS served as a wake-up call for the global community about the potential threat of emerging infectious diseases and the need for preparedness and collaboration to respond effectively to such outbreaks in the future. The lessons learned from the SARS outbreak have helped inform responses to subsequent outbreaks, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.