Molecular Biology of the SARS-Coronavirus

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SARS was the first new plague of the twenty-first century, rapidly spreading from Guangdong Province, China, to over 8,000 people in 25 countries across five continents. This outbreak highlighted the vulnerability of our globalized world to emerging infections. Unlike 50 years ago, the interconnectedness of today’s society allowed SARS to spread swiftly and widely. Increased affluence and the demand for wild game as exotic food led to the rise of live animal markets, where various species cohabited, creating ideal conditions for the transmission of viruses. Once a virus jumped to humans, enhanced human mobility facilitated its rapid dissemination. An infected individual from Guangdong stayed briefly at a Hong Kong hotel, transmitting the virus to 16 guests who then spread it to Toronto, Singapore, and Vietnam, as well as within Hong Kong. The virus also exploited modern intensive care practices for severe respiratory disease and the weaknesses in infection control within healthcare systems, leading to further outbreaks in hospitals. Thus, healthcare itself has become a double-edged sword in the battle against infectious diseases.