Introduction
Less than 1% for people aged 24 or younger, 6% for those 25 to 44, 15% for those 45 to 64, and more than 50% for those over 65 (Update 49)
Hosts
Humans
Transmission / Exposure Route
Primarily via close person-to-person contact, through droplet transmission [1]
Case Fatality Ratio
Less than 1% for people aged 24 or younger, 6% for those 25 to 44, 15% for those 45 to 64, and more than 50% for those over 65[2]
| Age (Years) | Case Fatality Ratio |
| < 24 | < 1% |
| 25-44 | 6% |
| 45-64 | 15% |
| > 65 | > 50% |
Incubation Period
Maximum is 10 days [2]
Burden of Disease
In the 2002-2003 outbreak, more than 8,000 cases were identified, mostly in mainland China. North America saw 251 cases during that period [3]
Duration of Infectiousness and disease
Symptomology
A high fever is typical (upwards of 38°C) at onset, after which headaches, general malaise, and diarrhea can occur. After 2 to 7 days, a dry cough may develop. Pneumonia is typical of most SARS patients.[4]
Latency
Asymptomatic Rates
Excretion Rates (see Exposure)
Immunity
Microbiology
Coronaviruses are positive-strand, enveloped RNA viruses [5]
