How Does the SARS Virus Spread?

SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) has killed hundreds of people over the past decade, and there is a constant risk that the disease may breakout in a worldwide pandemic. When describing the disease, "an urgent global public health threat" are the words that The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta used. How the virus spreads is still a bit of a mystery, but scientists have put together a few pieces of the puzzle. By understanding them, you can protect yourself and your family from falling prey to this deadly disease.

Symptoms:

SARS mostly affects the respiratory system. One of the most salient symptoms is the shortness of breath that is causes. Body aches, high fever, and a dry cough are also commonly reported symptoms. It is this cough which may be the main culprit in the spread of SARS.

Two Ways to Spread:

Unlike common viruses like the flu and cold, SARS can spread in more than one way.

1. Droplet Transmission

This is the most common way for a disease to spread. When someone is sick, and they cough or sneeze, they expel tiny droplets of saliva and mucus. If you come into contact with someone and these droplets get into your eyes, nose, or mouth, then the virus can spread inside your body. It is also possible to pick up the droplets by touching an object after the sick person has touched it. Door knobs, pay phones, and trash can lids are common places where germs can accumulate and spread from person to person.

2. The SuperSpreader

The scary thing about SARS is that sometimes it can be spread via microscopic particles that can travel through the air. Regular droplets usually can only travel about 3 feet before they fall to the ground, but microscopic droplets can travel hundreds of feet. Luckily, it appears that only a select few people are capable of becoming a SuperSpreader. These people have a unique respiratory system which allows microscopic SARS particles to accumulate in their lungs. When they cough, these particles are spewed out into the vicinity, potentially infecting everyone nearby. The scariest part is that there is no way to know who may be a SuperSpreader. This is why you may have seen people in Asia wearing masks over their faces.