Advances in clinical diagnosis and treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome

It has been proved that severe acute respiratory syndrome(SARS) is caused by SARS-associated coronavirus,a novelcoronavirus.SARS originated in Guangdong Province,thePeople’s Republic of China at the end of 2002.At present,it has spread to more than 33 countries or regions all overthe world and affected 8 360 people and killed 764 by May31,2003.Identification of the SARS causative agent anddevelopment of a diagnostic test are important.Detectingdisease in its early stage,understanding its pathways oftransmission and implementing specific preventionmeasures for the disease are dependent upon swiftprogress.Due to the efforts of the WHO-led network oflaboratories testing for SAP,S,tests for the novel coronavirushave been developed with unprecedented speed.Thegenome sequence reveals that this coronavirus is onlymoderately related to other known coronaviruses.WHOestablished the definitions of suspected and confirmed andprobable cases.But the laboratory tests and definitionsare limited.Until now,the primary measures includedisolation,ribavirin and corticosteroid therapy,mechanicalventilation,etc.Other therapies such as convalescentplasma are being explored.It is necessary to find moreeffective therapy.There still are many problems to be solvedin the course of conquering SAPS.