Question

Viral respiratory illness that first appeared in southern China in 2002 and became a global threat in 2003 by spreading internationally

A) SARS-CoV-2
B) Avian influenza
C) Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)
D) Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)

Answer 1

The respiratory illness from southern China in 2002 that spread globally in 2003 is known as Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), which is option D. It was caused by a coronavirus and was contained by 2004 with no new cases reported since.

Step-by-step explanation:

The viral respiratory illness that first appeared in southern China in 2002 and became a global threat in 2003 by spreading internationally is D) Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). SARS originated in Guangdong, southern China, and was traced back to contact with wild animals, producing symptoms that included fever, headache, and pneumonia, which proved fatal in some cases. SARS is caused by a coronavirus; specifically, the SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV), which is different from SARS-CoV-2 causing COVID-19 that began in 2019.

The outbreak of SARS was a significant health scare, and it led to the infection of over 8,000 people, with nearly 800 deaths. The rapid international spread raised global concern, but the outbreak was contained by 2004, and no new SARS cases have been reported since.