View source for 2002–2004 SARS outbreak

{{Short description|Epidemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome originating in China}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox pandemic
| name            = 2002–2004 SARS outbreak
| width           =
| map1            = SARS map.svg
| legend1         = Map of the infected countries of the epidemic of SARS between 1 Nov 2002 and 7 Aug 2003{{legend|#2B2B2B|Countries with confirmed deaths}}{{legend|#FF2929|Countries with confirmed infections}}{{legend|#B9B9B9|Countries without confirmed cases}}
| map2            = Sars Cases and Deaths.pdf
| legend2         = Map of SARS cases and deaths around the world regarding the global population
| map3            =
| legend3         =
| map4            =
| legend4         =
| map5            =
| legend5         =
| disease         = [[Severe acute respiratory syndrome|SARS]]
| virus_strain    = [[SARS-CoV-1]]
| location        = Worldwide<br>mostly in [[East Asia]]
| first_case      = 16 Nov 2002
| arrival_date    = Early 2003
| date            = {{nowrap|16 Nov 2002 – 19 May 2004}} {{Age in years, months, weeks and days |2002|11|16|2004|05|19}}
| origin          = [[Shunde District|Shunde]], Guangdong, China
| confirmed_cases = 8,096
| suspected_cases =
| recovery_cases  =
| deaths          = 774
| territories     = Around 30 countries
| total_ili       =
| website         =
}}
{{History of the People's Republic of China}}
{{Coronavirus}}

The 2002–2004 outbreak of [[SARS]], caused by [[SARS-CoV-1|severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus]] (SARS-CoV or SARS-CoV-1), infected over 8,000 people from 30 countries and territories, and resulted in at least 774 deaths worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/deadly-sars-virus-history-2003-in-photos-2020-2|title=How SARS terrified the world in 2003, infecting more than 8,000 people and killing 774|work=Business Insider|date=20 February 2020|access-date=2 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200302170811/https://www.businessinsider.com/deadly-sars-virus-history-2003-in-photos-2020-2|archive-date=2 March 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

The outbreak was first identified in [[Foshan]], [[Guangdong]], [[China]], in November 2002.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=July–August 2003|title=A Chronicle on the SARS Epidemic|url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.2753/CLG0009-4609360412|journal=Chinese Law & Government|language=en|volume=36|issue=4|pages=12–15|doi=10.2753/CLG0009-4609360412|s2cid=219305114|issn=0009-4609|access-date=12 June 2020|archive-date=2 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002175625/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.2753/CLG0009-4609360412|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref> The [[World Health Organization]] (WHO) was notified of the outbreak in February 2003, and issued a global alert in March 2003. Initially, the cause of the outbreak was unknown, and some media outlets reported that an influenza virus was a potential culprit.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/2846243.stm|title=Alert over Hong Kong 'super-flu'|date=13 March 2003|via=news.bbc.co.uk|access-date=25 October 2021|archive-date=25 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025185624/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/2846243.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> The major part of the outbreak lasted about 8 months, and the World Health Organization declared SARS contained on 5 July 2003. However, several SARS cases were reported until May 2004.<ref name=":0" />

In late December 2019, [[Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2|SARS-CoV-2]], a coronavirus in the same genus as the one that caused SARS, was discovered in [[Wuhan]], [[Hubei]], China. This strain causes [[COVID-19]], which spread to other areas of Asia, and [[COVID-19 pandemic by country and territory|then worldwide]] in early 2020, marking the start of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite web |title=New coronavirus stable for hours on surfaces |url=https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/new-coronavirus-stable-hours-surfaces |website=National Institutes of Health (NIH) |publisher=NIH.gov |access-date=4 May 2020 |language=EN |date=17 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323032520/https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/new-coronavirus-stable-hours-surfaces |archive-date=23 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Situation Reports: Data as reported by: 20 January 2020 |url=https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200121-sitrep-1-2019-ncov.pdf?sfvrsn=20a99c10_4 |website=www.who.int |publisher=WHO |access-date=3 September 2020 |language=en |archive-date=29 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129025723/https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200121-sitrep-1-2019-ncov.pdf?sfvrsn=20a99c10_4 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Outbreak by country and territory==
[[File:2003 Probable cases of SARS - Worldwide.svg|400px|thumb|2003 probable cases of SARS worldwide]]
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:430px;"
|+ Probable cases of SARS by country and territory, <br />1 November 2002 – 31 July 2003<ref>{{cite web |title=Summary of probable SARS cases with onset of illness from 1 November 2002 to 31 July 2003 |date=21 April 2004 |publisher=World Health Organization |url=https://www.who.int/csr/sars/country/table2004_04_21/en/ |access-date=3 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200319162659/https://www.who.int/csr/sars/country/table2004_04_21/en/ |archive-date=19 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
! Country or region
! style="text-align:right;" | Cases
! style="text-align:right;" | Deaths
! style="text-align:right;" | Fatality (%)
|- align=right
|align=left|{{flag|China}}{{efn|Figures for China exclude Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, which are reported separately by the [[World Health Organization|WHO]].}}||5,327||349||6.6
|- align=right
|align=left|{{flag|Hong Kong}}||1,755||299||17.0
|- align=right
|align=left|{{flag|Taiwan}}{{efn|After 11 July 2003, 325 Taiwanese cases were 'discarded'. Laboratory information was insufficient or incomplete for 135 of the discarded cases; 101 of these patients died.}}<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://www.cdc.gov.tw/Bulletin/Detail/epPvhTanl4S984qYmcaMXA?typeid=9 |title = 衛生署針對報載SARS死亡人數有極大差異乙事提出說明 |trans-title = DH's statement on significant differences in reported SARS deaths |publisher = 台灣衛生福利部疾病管制署 (Disease Control Agency, Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare) |language = zh-hans |access-date = 3 March 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200320075731/https://www.cdc.gov.tw/Bulletin/Detail/epPvhTanl4S984qYmcaMXA?typeid=9 |archive-date = 20 March 2020 |url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url = https://news.pts.org.tw/article/238707 |title = 十年前SARS流行 346人感染73死亡 |date = 25 April 2013 |trans-title = Ten years ago SARS epidemic 346 people infected 73 died |publisher = Public Television Service |language = zh-hans |access-date = 3 March 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200219233224/https://news.pts.org.tw/article/238707 |archive-date = 19 February 2020 |url-status = live }}</ref>||346||73 || 21.1
|- align=right
|align=left|{{flag|Canada}}||251||43||17.1
|- align=right
|align=left|{{flag|Singapore}}||238||33||13.9
|- align=right
|align=left|{{flag|Vietnam}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hồi ức 45 ngày kinh hoàng chống dịch SARS |url=http://benhnhietdoi.vn/tin-tuc/chi-tiet/hoi-uc-45-ngay-kinh-hoang-chong-dich-sars/220 |access-date=2023-04-03 |website=benhnhietdoi.vn |language=vi |archive-date=3 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230403191214/http://benhnhietdoi.vn/tin-tuc/chi-tiet/hoi-uc-45-ngay-kinh-hoang-chong-dich-sars/220 |url-status=live }}</ref>||63||5||7.9
|- align=right
|align=left|{{nowrap|{{flag|United States}}}}||27||0||0
|- align=right
|align=left|{{flag|Philippines}}||14||2||14.3
|- align=right
|align=left|{{flag|Thailand}}||9||2||22.2
|- align=right
|align=left|{{flag|Germany}}||9||0||0
|- align=right
|align=left|{{flag|Mongolia}}||9||0||0
|- align=right
|align=left|{{flag|France}}||7||1||14.3
|- align=right
|align=left|{{flag|Australia}}||6||0||0
|- align=right
|align=left|{{flag|Malaysia}}||5||2||40.0
|- align=right
|align=left|{{flag|Sweden}}||5||0||0
|- align=right
|align=left|{{flag|United Kingdom}}||4||0||0
|- align=right
|align=left|{{flag|Italy}}||4||0||0
|- align=right
|align=left|{{flag|India}}||3||0||0
|- align=right
|align=left|{{flag|South Korea|1997}}||3||0||0
|- align=right
|align=left|{{flag|Indonesia}}||2||0||0
|- align=right
|align=left|{{flag|South Africa}}||1||1||100.0
|- align=right
|align=left|{{flag|Kuwait}}||1||0||0
|- align=right
|align=left|{{flag|Ireland}}||1||0||0
|- align=right
|align=left|{{flag|Macau}}||1||0||0
|- align=right
|align=left|{{flag|New Zealand}}||1||0||0
|- align=right
|align=left|{{flag|Romania}}||1||0||0
|- align=right
|align=left|{{flag|Russia}}||1||0||0
|- align=right
|align=left|{{flag|Spain}}||1||0||0
|- align=right
|align=left|{{flag|Switzerland}}||1||0||0
|- align=right class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:left;" | {{nowrap|Total excluding China}}||2,769||425||15.4
|- align=right style="font-weight:bold;" class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:left;" | Total (30 territories) || 8,096 || 774 || 9.6
|- class="sortbottom"
| colspan=5 style="font-size: smaller;" | {{notelist}}
|}

==Timeline==
===November 2002===
On 16 November 2002,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Dan|first1=Feng |last2=De Vlas |first2=Sake J. |last3=Fang |first3=Li-Qun |last4=Han |first4=Xiao-Na |last5=Zhao |first5=Wen-Juan |last6=Shen |first6=Sheng |last7=Yang |first7=Hong |last8=Jia |first8=Zhong-Wei |last9=Richardus |first9=Jan Hendrik |last10=Cao |first10=Wu-Chun |title=The SARS epidemic in mainland China: bringing together all epidemiological data |journal=Tropical Medicine and International Health |date=27 October 2009 |volume=14 |issue=s1 |pages=4–13 |doi=10.1111/j.1365-3156.2008.02145.x|pmid=19508441 |pmc=7169858 }}</ref> an outbreak of [[severe acute respiratory syndrome]] (SARS) began in China's [[Guangdong]] province, bordering Hong Kong. The first case of infection was traced to [[Foshan]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Xu |first1=Rui-Heng |last2=He |first2=Jian-Feng |last3=Evans |first3=Meirion R. |last4=Peng |first4=Guo-Wen |last5=Field |first5=Hume E. |last6=Yu |first6=De-Wen |last7=Lee |first7=Chin-Kei |last8=Luo |first8=Hui-Min |last9=Lin |first9=Wei-Sheng |last10=Lin |first10=Peng |last11=Li |first11=Ling-Hui |last12=Liang |first12=Wen-Jia |last13=Lin |first13=Jin-Yan |last14=Schnur |first14=Alan |title=Epidemiologic Clues to SARS Origin in China |journal=Emerging Infectious Diseases |date=June 2004 |volume=10 |issue=6 |pages=1030–1037 |pmc=3323155 |doi=10.3201/eid1006.030852 |pmid=15207054}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Horstman |first1=Mark |title=The facts about SARS |url=https://www.abc.net.au/science/features/sars/outbreak.htm |access-date=25 May 2020 |agency=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=7 April 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224122800/http://www.abc.net.au/science/features/sars/outbreak.htm |archive-date=24 December 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> This first outbreak affected people in the food industry, such as farmers, market vendors, and chefs.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Nik |title=SARS remembered – how a deadly respiratory virus hit Asian economies |url=https://www.dw.com/en/sars-remembered-how-a-deadly-respiratory-virus-hit-asian-economies/a-52088462 |access-date=25 May 2020 |work=Deutsche Welle |date=22 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612205736/https://www.dw.com/en/sars-remembered-how-a-deadly-respiratory-virus-hit-asian-economies/a-52088462 |archive-date=12 June 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ernyt">{{cite news |last1=Rosenthal |first1=Elisabeth |title=The SARS Epidemic: The Path; From China's Provinces, a Crafty Germ Breaks Out |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/27/world/the-sars-epidemic-the-path-from-china-s-provinces-a-crafty-germ-breaks-out.html |access-date=25 May 2020 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=27 April 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200522172522/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/27/world/the-sars-epidemic-the-path-from-china-s-provinces-a-crafty-germ-breaks-out.html |archive-date=22 May 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> The outbreak [[2002–2004 SARS outbreak among healthcare workers|spread to healthcare workers]] after people sought medical treatment for the disease.<ref name="ernyt"/> The [[People's Republic of China]] notified the [[World Health Organization]] (WHO) about this outbreak on 11 February 2003, reporting 305 cases including 105 health-care workers and five deaths.<ref>[https://www.who.int/csr/don/2003_03_21/en/index.html Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) – multi-country outbreak – Update 6.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090503063347/http://www.who.int/csr/don/2003_03_21/en/index.html |date=3 May 2009 }} ''World Health Organization (www.who.int)''. Retrieved 22 January 2020</ref> Later it reported that the outbreak in Guangdong had peaked in mid-February 2003. However, this appears to have been false because subsequently 806 cases of infection and 34 deaths were reported.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Cyranoski |first=D. |year=2003 |title=China joins investigation of mystery pneumonia |journal=[[Nature (journal)|Nature]] |volume=422 |issue=6931 |page=459 |doi=10.1038/422459b|pmid=12673214|pmc=7094955 |bibcode=2003Natur.422..459C|doi-access=free }}</ref> Italian physician [[Carlo Urbani]] was the first to identify SARS as probably a new and dangerously contagious viral disease.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article1129034.ece | location=London | work=The Times | first1=Sam | last1=Coates | first2=Anushka | last2=Asthana | title=Dr Carlo Urbani Health expert who identified the Sars outbreak as an epidemic, and was killed by the virus | access-date=14 December 2020 | archive-date=5 June 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605002200/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article1129034.ece | url-status=dead }}{{subscription required}}</ref><ref name="death">{{cite news| url=https://www.who.int/csr/sars/urbani/en/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030605150221/http://www.who.int/csr/sars/urbani/en/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=5 June 2003 |date=29 March 2003 |access-date= 23 January 2020| work=WHO| title=Dr. Carlo Urbani of the World Health Organization dies of SARS}}</ref>

Early in the epidemic, the Chinese government discouraged its press from reporting on SARS, delayed reporting to WHO, and initially did not provide information to Chinese outside Guangdong province, where the disease is believed to have originated.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/27/world/china-raises-tally-of-cases-and-deaths-in-mystery-illness.html |title=China Raises Tally of Cases and Deaths in Mystery Illness|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=27 March 2003|access-date=11 March 2009 |first1=E. |last1=Rosenthal |first2=L. K. | last2=Altman|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090506004415/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/27/world/china-raises-tally-of-cases-and-deaths-in-mystery-illness.html|archive-date=6 May 2009}}</ref> Also, a WHO team that travelled to Beijing was not allowed to visit Guangdong province for several weeks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.umass.edu/sts/ethics/online/cases/SARS/case.html|title=IDEESE Case: SARS|access-date=20 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427124829/http://www.umass.edu/sts/ethics/online/cases/SARS/case.html|archive-date=27 April 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> This resulted in international criticism, which seems to have led to a change in government policy in early April.<ref name="IDEESEcaseSARS">{{cite web |title=The SARS Epidemic |url=https://www.umass.edu/sts/ethics/online/cases/SARS/case.html |website=International Dimensions of Ethics Education in Science and Engineering Project |publisher=[[University of Massachusetts Amherst]] |access-date=20 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612230309/https://www.umass.edu/sts/ethics/online/cases/SARS/case.html |archive-date=12 June 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Ching2003">{{cite web |last1=Ching |first1=Frank |title=Sars Gives China a Lesson in Globalization |url=https://yaleglobal.yale.edu/content/sars-gives-china-lesson-globalization |website=YaleGlobal |publisher=[[Yale University]] |access-date=20 May 2020 |date=2 May 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612203025/https://yaleglobal.yale.edu/content/sars-gives-china-lesson-globalization |archive-date=12 June 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===January 2003===
A [[fishmonger]], named Zhou Zuofen, checked in to the [[Sun Yat-sen University|Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital]] in [[Guangzhou]] on 31 January, where he infected 30 nurses and doctors. The virus soon spread to nearby hospitals.<ref>{{cite news |title=Scientists wait for next mass killer to spill over from nature |author=Peter McGrath |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/analysis/scientists-wait-for-next-mass-killer-to-spill-over-from-nature-1-5399130 |newspaper=[[The Yorkshire Post]] |date=12 February 2013 |access-date=26 January 2020 |format=Zhou is erroneously named Zhou Zoufeng in the article |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126133749/https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/analysis/scientists-wait-for-next-mass-killer-to-spill-over-from-nature-1-5399130 |archive-date=26 January 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===February 2003===
====Hong Kong====
[[File:Hotel Metropole 9th floor layout SARS 2003.svg|thumbnail|Ninth floor layout of the Hotel Metropole in Hong Kong, showing where an outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) occurred]]
In February 2003, Liu Jianlun became Hong Kong's SARS [[index case|index patient]]. He had come to attend a family wedding gathering; Liu was on the staff at Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital in Guangzhou and had treated SARS patients.<ref>{{cite book |last=Abraham |first=Thomas |author-link=Thomas Abraham |date=2004 |title=Twenty-first Century Plague: The Story of SARS |publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press |url=https://archive.org/details/twentyfirstcentu00thom |via=archive.org |isbn=9780801881244 |url-access=registration |access-date=22 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226203419/https://archive.org/details/twentyfirstcentu00thom |archive-date=26 February 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 21 February, Liu and his wife checked into room 911 on the ninth floor of the Metropole Hotel. Despite feeling ill he visited with his family and they traveled around Hong Kong. By the morning of 22 February, he knew he was very sick and walked to the Accident and Emergency Department of [[Kwong Wah Hospital]] to seek treatment. He was treated by the triage nurse and doctor without protective measures even though a memorandum on surveillance of severe community-acquired pneumonia had been issued by the [[Hospital Authority|Hospital Authority of Hong Kong]]. After Liu's chest X-ray taken in Kwong Wah Hospital became available, staff became aware of the situation, wearing [[personal protective equipment]] and full isolation inside the [[Intensive care unit|ICU]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.legco.gov.hk/yr03-04/english/sc/sc_sars/reports/sars_rpt.htm|title=Select Committee to inquire into the handling of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome outbreak by the Government and the Hospital Authority|website=www.legco.gov.hk|access-date=13 October 2021|archive-date=19 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419143128/https://www.legco.gov.hk/yr03-04/english/sc/sc_sars/reports/sars_rpt.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> He had not recovered and died on 4 March.

Liu is believed to have been a SARS super-spreader: 23 other Metropole guests developed SARS, including seven from the ninth floor. Liu's brother-in-law, who sought treatment in late February, was hospitalized in Kwong Wah Hospital on 1 March and died on 19 March. It is estimated that around 80% of the Hong Kong cases were due to Liu.<ref name="Khan2016">Khan, Ali S. & Patrick, William. (2016). "The Next Pandemic." New York: PublicAffairs.</ref>

====Vietnam====
The virus was carried to [[Hanoi]], [[Vietnam]], by Chinese-American Johnny Chen, a resident of Shanghai who had roomed across the hall from Liu at the Metropole. He was admitted to the [[French Hospital of Hanoi]] on 26 February, where he infected at least 38 members of the staff. Even though he was evacuated to Hong Kong, he died on 13 March.<ref name="Khan2016"/> [[Carlo Urbani]], a [[World Health Organization]] (WHO) infectious disease specialist, was among the staff who examined Chen. Urbani observed that other hospital staff were already falling ill and realized that he was dealing with a new and dangerous disease. He himself became infected and died on 29 March.<ref name=Khan2016/>

====Canada====
{{further|2002–2004 SARS outbreak among healthcare workers}}
On 23 February, an elderly woman named Kwan Sui-Chu who had also been a Metropole Hotel guest, returned to [[Toronto]], Canada, from Hong Kong. She died at home on 5 March, after infecting her son Tse Chi Kwai, who subsequently spread the disease to [[Birchmount Hospital|Scarborough Grace Hospital]] and died on 13 March.<ref>{{cite book |last=Low |first=Donald |author-link=Donald Low |date=2004 |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92467/ |pages=63–71 |title=Learning from SARS: Preparing for the Next Disease Outbreak: Workshop Summary |publisher=National Academies Press (US) |access-date=28 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224085530/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92467/ |archive-date=24 February 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===March 2003===
====Singapore====
On 1 March, 26-year-old Esther Mok, another Metropole guest, was admitted to [[Tan Tock Seng Hospital]] after visiting Hong Kong, starting the outbreak in Singapore. Although she recovered, various family members did not.<ref>{{cite news |last=Yeoh |first=En-Lai |date=9 April 2003 |url=https://www.ph.ucla.edu/epi/bioter/singaporewomanSARS.html |title=Singapore Woman Linked to 100 SARS Cases |agency=Associated Press |access-date=28 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618210614/http://www.ph.ucla.edu/epi/bioter/singaporewomanSARS.html |archive-date=18 June 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Taiwan====
The first cases of atypical pneumonia in Taiwan were identified in a Guangdong-based businessman and his wife on 14 March and confirmed on 17 March. He had returned to Taiwan via Hong Kong on 23 February and reported a fever two days later. His wife became ill after caring for him, and both were admitted to [[National Taiwan University Hospital]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Mystery bug strikes Taiwan couple |url=https://taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2003/03/15/0000198082 |access-date=19 April 2020 |work=Taipei Times |agency=Central News Agency |date=15 March 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516163856/https://taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2003/03/15/0000198082 |archive-date=16 May 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Taiwan's third case of the disease was identified in a Yilan hospital on 15 March. Like the first case, the third case appeared in someone who had traveled to Guangdong and transited through Hong Kong before arriving in Taiwan.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chen |first1=Melody |title=A third case of atypical pneumonia reported in Taiwan |url=https://taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2003/03/16/0000198232 |access-date=19 April 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=16 March 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516160404/https://taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2003/03/16/0000198232 |archive-date=16 May 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Shortly after the third case was diagnosed, officials from the [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]] in the United States traveled to Taiwan to study the disease.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chen |first1=Melody |title=US specialists to study pneumonia cases |url=https://taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2003/03/17/0000198360 |access-date=19 April 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=17 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516163330/https://taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2003/03/17/0000198360 |archive-date=16 May 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Chen |first1=Melody |title=Mystery illness highlights Taiwan's health isolation |url=https://taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2003/03/18/0000198471 |access-date=19 April 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=18 March 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516141245/https://taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2003/03/18/0000198471 |archive-date=16 May 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> The fourth case, in another traveler to Guangdong, was identified in Chiayi on 18 March, after he sought treatment at a hospital the previous day.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chen |first1=Melody |last2=Ko |first2=Shu-ling |last3=Lin |first3=Mei-chun |title=Fourth mystery pneumonia case confirmed in Chiayi |url=https://taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2003/03/19/0000198748 |access-date=19 April 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=19 March 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516140705/https://taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2003/03/19/0000198748 |archive-date=16 May 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> By 22 March, six cases in Taiwan had matched the [[World Health Organization]] definition of probable.<ref>{{cite news |title=WHO pinpoints six 'probable' SARS cases in Taiwan |url=https://taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/03/23/0000199173 |access-date=19 April 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=23 March 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516142416/https://taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/03/23/0000199173 |archive-date=16 May 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Hong Kong====
{{See also|Amoy_Gardens#SARS_outbreak}}
On 4 March, a 27-year-old man, who had visited a guest on the Metropole's 9th floor 11 days earlier, was admitted to Hong Kong's [[Prince of Wales Hospital]]. At least 99 hospital workers (including 17 medical students) were infected while treating him.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5212a1.htm|title=Update: Outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome – Worldwide, 2003|access-date=20 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427124814/http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5212a1.htm|archive-date=27 April 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 11 March, Carlo Urbani travelled to [[Bangkok]], [[Thailand]], to attend a medical conference. He fell ill during the flight and told a friend waiting at Bangkok not to touch him, to call an ambulance and take him to a hospital. He was isolated in an intensive care unit. A similar outbreak of a mysterious respiratory infection was reported among Hong Kong healthcare workers.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2024-06-26|title=WHO Director-General's remarks at the Opening Ceremony of the Carlo Urbani Museum – 1 April 2023|url=https://www.who.int/director-general/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-remarks-at-the-opening-ceremony-of-the-carlo-urbani-museum---1-april-2023|website=www.who.int}}</ref><ref name="a948">{{cite journal | last=Fleck | first=F. | title=Carlo Urbani | journal=BMJ | volume=326 | issue=7393 | date=2003-04-12 | issn=0959-8138 | doi=10.1136/bmj.326.7393.825 | pages=825}}</ref>

On 12 March, WHO issued a global alert about a new infectious disease of unknown origin in both Vietnam and Hong Kong. On 15 March, WHO issued a heightened global health alert about a mysterious pneumonia with a case definition of SARS after cases in Singapore and Canada were also identified. The alert included a rare emergency travel advisory to international travelers, healthcare professionals, and health authorities. The [[Centers for Disease Control]] (CDC) issued a travel advisory stating that persons considering travel to the affected areas in Asia (Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, and China) should not go.<ref name="o639">{{cite web | last1=Mackenzie | first1=J.S. | last2=Drury | first2=P. | last3=Ellis | first3=A. | last4=Grein | first4=T. | last5=Leitmeyer | first5=K.C. | last6=Mardel | first6=S. | last7=Merianos | first7=A. | last8=Olowokure | first8=B. | last9=Roth | first9=C. | last10=Slattery | first10=R. | last11=Thomson | first11=G. | last12=Werker | first12=D. | last13=Ryan | first13=M. | title=The WHO Response to SARS and Preparations for the Future  | publisher=National Academies Press (US) | date=2004 | url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92476/ | access-date=2024-06-26}}</ref><ref name="n117">{{cite web | title=CDC SARS Response Timeline | website=CDC | date=2018-08-03 | url=https://archive.cdc.gov/www_cdc_gov/about/history/sars/timeline.htm | access-date=2024-06-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Revision of the International Health Regulations Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) |url=https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA56/ea5648.pdf |website=World Health Organization |access-date=26 June 2024 |date=17 May 2003}}</ref>

On 17 March, an international network of 11 laboratories was established to determine the cause of SARS and develop potential treatments.<ref name="h749">{{cite book | last1=Shi | first1=Z. | last2=Wang | first2=L.-F. | title=Genetics and Evolution of Infectious Diseases | chapter=Evolution of SARS Coronavirus and the Relevance of Modern Molecular Epidemiology | publisher=Elsevier | year=2017 | isbn=978-0-12-799942-5 | doi=10.1016/b978-0-12-799942-5.00026-3 | pages=601–619}}</ref>

On 25 March, Hong Kong authorities stated that nine tourists had contracted the disease from a mainland Chinese man who had boarded the same plane on 15 March, [[Air China Flight 112]] to Beijing.<ref name=Koh2003>{{Cite journal|last1=Koh|first1=D.|last2=Lim|first2=M. K.|date=1 August 2003|title=SARS and occupational health in the air|url= |journal=Occupational and Environmental Medicine|volume=60|issue=8|pages=539–540|doi=10.1136/oem.60.8.539|issn=1351-0711|pmid=12883012|pmc=1740596}}</ref>

On 27 March, [[Arthur K. C. Li]], head of the [[Hong Kong Education and Manpower Bureau]], announced cancellation of all classes in educational institutions. The Ministry of Education in Singapore announced that all primary schools, secondary schools, and junior colleges were to be shut until 6 April 2003. Polytechnics and universities were not affected.<ref>{{cite web |title=Closure of schools: Joint Press Release by MOE and MOH |url=http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/2003032606.htm |website=NAS |access-date=15 January 2020 |date=26 March 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115053946/https://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/2003032606.htm |archive-date=15 January 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 29 March, Urbani died in Bangkok.<ref name="a948"/>

On 30 March, Hong Kong authorities quarantined estate E of the [[Amoy Gardens]] housing estate due to a massive (200+ cases) outbreak in the building. The balcony was completely closed and guarded by the police. The residents of the building were later transferred to the quarantined [[Lei Yue Mun Holiday Camp]] and Lady MacLehose Holiday Village on 1 April because the building was deemed a health hazard.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

Most of the cases were linked to apartments with a north-western orientation which shared the same sewage pipe. According to government officials, the virus was brought into the estate by an infected [[kidney]] patient (the type of kidney illness was not specified) after discharge from [[Prince of Wales Hospital]], who visited his elder brother living on the seventh floor. Through excretion, the virus spread through drainage. One theory speculated that the virus was spread by [[airborne transmission]], through dried up U-shaped P-traps in the drainage system which a maritime breeze blew into the estate's balconies and stairwell ventilation. It was confirmed that the virus spread via droplets, but this later outbreak made officials question the possibility that the virus could be spread through the air.<ref name="LiAirborneSARS">{{cite journal |last1=Li Y, Huang X, Yu IT, Wong TW, Qian H |title=Role of air distribution in SARS transmission during the largest nosocomial outbreak in Hong Kong |journal=Indoor Air |date=April 2005 |volume=15 |issue=2 |pages=83–95 |doi=10.1111/j.1600-0668.2004.00317.x |pmid=15737151 |bibcode=2005InAir..15...83L |s2cid=43348086 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

===April 2003===
On 1 April, the U.S. government called back non-essential personnel in their consulate office in Hong Kong and Guangzhou. The US government also advised US citizens not to travel to the region.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

On 2 April, Chinese medical officials began reporting the status of the SARS outbreak. China's southern Guangdong province reported 361 new infections and 9 new deaths, increasing the total [[Mainland China]] figures previously reported at end-February. The virus was also detected in Beijing and Shanghai. The WHO also advised travellers to avoid Hong Kong and Guangdong during a press briefing.<ref>[https://www.who.int/csr/sars/press2003_04_01/en/ Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome – Press briefing] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030417131731/http://www.who.int/csr/sars/press2003_04_01/en/ |date=17 April 2003 }} 1 April 2003 ''www.who.int''. Retrieved 22 January 2020</ref>

On 3 April, a WHO team of international scientists landed in [[Guangzhou]] from Beijing to discuss with officials, but the team was yet to inspect any suspected origin or any medical facilities on the progress of infection control. Fifteen of the quarantined [[Amoy Gardens]] residents at [[Lei Yue Mun Holiday Camp]] were relocated to the [[Sai Kung Outdoor Recreation Centre]] after an overnight protest on washroom sharing. The first medical worker infected with SARS died in Hong Kong. The doctor's daughter and infected wife survived his illness, although the wife was also among the quarantined medical workers under intensive care. Hong Kong school closures were extended by two weeks to 21 April.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

On 4 April, the WHO team inspected the first infection case in Foshan County. The person infected four people but did not infect his family. A 40-year-old woman became the first local case in Shanghai. A Chinese health specialist admitted at a press conference to not informing the public early enough about the outbreak. The PRC Health Minister also claimed that the disease has been under control in most parts of mainland China. He also released the names of seven drugs which he claimed to be effective in curing SARS. WHO officials said that the information provided by the PRC about the disease has been "very detailed".{{citation needed|date=January 2020}} US government enforced compulsory quarantine of an infected person.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

On 5 April, the Singapore government announced that school closures would be extended. Junior colleges were to reopen on 9 April, secondary schools would reopen on 14 April and primary schools and pre-schools would reopen on 16 April.<ref>{{cite web |title=Phased Reopening of Schools |url=http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/2003040501.htm |website=NAS |access-date=15 January 2020 |date=5 April 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115053936/https://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/2003040501.htm |archive-date=15 January 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 6 April, a SARS case was found in [[Manila]], a person who had returned from Hong Kong.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

On 8 April, SARS was discovered in the [[Lower Ngau Tau Kok Estate]] near Amoy Gardens in Kowloon. Hong Kong health officials warned that SARS had spread so far domestically and abroad that it was here to stay. Nevertheless, WHO officials remained cautiously optimistic that the disease could still be contained.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150527231552/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/09/business/asian-officials-say-mysterious-disease-may-be-here-to-stay.html Keith Bradsher With Lawrence K. Altman: Asian Officials Say Mysterious Disease May Be Here to Stay] 9 April 2003 ''The New York Times''. Retrieved 22 January 2020</ref>

On 9 April, James Earl Salisbury died of SARS at a hospital in Hong Kong. An American [[Mormon]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120901170222/http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=7cecc8fe9c88d010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=4565902dbedad010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____ "Church Member Dies of SARS"], 11 April 2003, ''lds.org''. Retrieved 22 January 2020</ref> and a teacher at [[Shenzhen Polytechnic]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/04/11/1049567875256.html|title=Panic as China's SARS toll rises|date=12 April 2003|access-date=20 April 2015|website=The Age|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170602125510/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/04/11/1049567875256.html|archive-date=2 June 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> he had been sick for approximately one month before his death,<!--<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150924123549/http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4196/is_20030410/ai_n10881024 Doctor accuses China of covering up SARS outbreak]</ref> --> but he was originally diagnosed with [[pneumonia]].<ref>Reported on [[CBS]]'s [[The Early Show]] [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/american-family-affected-by-sars/ Tatiana Morales: American Family Affected By SARS]  11 April 2003, CBS News. Retrieved 22 January 2020</ref> His son Michael "Mickey" Salisbury was with him in China and also contracted the disease, but he survived it.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsgd.com/english/news/bignews/200305060221.htm|title=American SARS boy back home [SOUTHCN.COM]|access-date=20 April 2015|website=newsgd.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231029/http://www.newsgd.com/english/news/bignews/200305060221.htm|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Salisbury's death led to more open admissions by the Chinese government about the spread of SARS.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/04/24/timeline.sars|title=Timeline: SARS outbreak|date=24 April 2003|access-date=20 April 2015|publisher=CNN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427183702/http://edition.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/04/24/timeline.sars/|archive-date=27 April 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 10 April, Jim Hughes, the head of infectious disease at the [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention|CDC]], confirming the warnings of Hong Kong health officials, claimed that he believed that SARS could no longer be eradicated in the Far East. However, he remained hopeful that it could be prevented from spreading widely in North America.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2935111.stm Sars illness 'not under control'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030628070352/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2935111.stm |date=28 June 2003 }} 11 April 2003, ''bbc.co.uk''. Retrieved 22 January 2020</ref> On 11 April, the [[World Health Organization]] issued a global health alert for SARS as it became clear the disease was being spread by global [[air travel]].{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

On 12 April, [[Marco Marra]], director of the Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, which is part of the [[British Columbia Cancer Agency]], announced that scientists at his centre had broken the genetic code of the virus suspected of causing the disease.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20040220120126/http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s831165.htm Scientists claim SARS breakthrough] 14 April 2003, Archived from Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 22 January 2020</ref> In Toronto, three more people died of SARS, bringing the Canadian death toll to 13. On 16 April, the WHO issued a press release stating that the coronavirus identified by a number of laboratories was the official cause of SARS. The virus was officially named the [[SARS virus]].<ref>[https://www.who.int/mediacentre/releases/2003/pr31/en/ Coronavirus never before seen in humans is the cause of SARS Unprecedented collaboration identifies new pathogen in record time] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040812124322/http://www.who.int/mediacentre/releases/2003/pr31/en/ |date=12 August 2004 }} Geneva, 16 April 2003, ''www.who.int''. Retrieved 22 January 2020</ref>

On 17 April, the first confirmed case of SARS from India was reported.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/sars-in-india/219990 | title=SARS in India | date=1 May 2003 | publisher=Outlook | location=India | first=Sandeep | last=Singh | access-date=7 June 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612215517/https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/sars-in-india/219990 | archive-date=12 June 2020 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Sars spreads to India |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/apr/17/sars.india |access-date=9 June 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=17 April 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612144300/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/apr/17/sars.india |archive-date=12 June 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 19 April, [[Premier of the People's Republic of China]] [[Wen Jiabao]] announced that there would be severe consequences for local officials who did not report SARS cases in a timely and accurate manner, signaling a major change in policy. SARS had also been gaining prominence in the mainland Chinese media; by late April, it had jumped from virtual invisibility onto the front page, with daily reports from all provinces on new cases and measures.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

On 20 April, Beijing's mayor [[Meng Xuenong]] and the health minister of the PRC [[Zhang Wenkang]] were replaced respectively by [[Wang Qishan]] from [[Hainan]] and the former deputy health minister [[Gao Qiang]]. They were the first two high-rank officials in the PRC to be dismissed because of the fallout of the epidemic. In the news conference chaired by Gao Qiang several hours earlier, the PRC admitted that in Beijing there were more than 300 cases, as opposed to the previous figure of only 37. The figure had increased to 407 the following day. Chinese officials also admitted to major underreporting of cases, which were attributed to bureaucratic ineptitude.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

On 22 April, schools in Hong Kong started to reopen in stages. On 23 April, Beijing announced that all primary and secondary schools would be closed for two weeks.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Eckholm |first=Erik |date=2003-04-23 |title=The SARS Epidemic: Beijing; Chinese Capital Closes Schools for at Least Two Weeks |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/23/world/the-sars-epidemic-beijing-chinese-capital-closes-schools-for-at-least-two-weeks.html |url-status=live |access-date=2023-09-05 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230905223623/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/23/world/the-sars-epidemic-beijing-chinese-capital-closes-schools-for-at-least-two-weeks.html |archive-date=2023-09-05 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> A few days before, some colleges in [[Peking University]] had been closed because some students had been infected. The WHO issued travel advisories against Beijing, Toronto, and [[Shanxi]].<ref>{{cite journal |title=Why was Toronto included in the World Health Organization's SARS-related travel advisory? |date=2003 |pmc=155962 |last1=Rodier |first1=G. R. |journal=Canadian Medical Association Journal |volume=168 |issue=11 |pages=1434–1435 |pmid=12771075 }}</ref>

After several cases of SARS were diagnosed in Taiwan throughout the month of April,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chen |first1=Melody |title=DOH says girl contracted SARS |url=https://taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2003/04/16/0000202246 |access-date=19 April 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=16 April 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516142009/https://taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2003/04/16/0000202246 |archive-date=16 May 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> including a cluster at Taipei Municipal Hospital's Hoping branch,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chen |first1=Yun-ping |title=Taipei health chief deflects blame bug |url=https://taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/04/28/0000203819 |access-date=19 April 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=28 April 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516140009/https://taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/04/28/0000203819 |archive-date=16 May 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Chen |first1=Melody |title=New SARS cases linked to hospital |url=https://taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2003/04/24/0000203252 |access-date=19 April 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=24 April 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516142421/https://taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2003/04/24/0000203252 |archive-date=16 May 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> the [[Taipei City Government]] closed that hospital and quarantined its 930 staff and 240 patients for two weeks.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/04/25/0000203407|title=SARS epidemic: Taipei City closes down hospital|newspaper=Taipei Times|date=25 April 2003|author=Chang Yun-ping|access-date=22 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129161919/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/04/25/0000203407|archive-date=29 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> The decision to lock down the medical facility was protested by hospital staff.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Han Cheung |title=Taiwan in Time: Remembering the SARS lockdown |url=https://taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2020/04/19/2003734881 |access-date=19 April 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=18 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200422132030/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2020/04/19/2003734881 |archive-date=22 April 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 24 April, the Hong Kong Government announced an HK$11.8&nbsp;billion relief package designed to assist Hong Kong's battered tourism, entertainment, retail, and catering sectors, consisting of a waiver of tourism- and transport-related license fees, and HK$1&nbsp;billion allocated for tourism promotion overseas. The package also includes a [[salaries tax]] rebate and reduced rates.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

On 26 April, [[Wu Yi (politician)|Wu Yi]] was named Zhang Wenkang's replacement as PRC health minister. On 26–27 April, Chinese authorities [[Lockdown|locked down]] Beijing, closing down theatres, discos, and other entertainment venues in Beijing as the death toll in Beijing continued to rise, threatening to become the worst-hit area of the country, eclipsing the province of [[Guangdong]]. People who may have been exposed were ordered to stay home. Authorities were bolstered by the fact that the infection rate seemed to have declined, with Guangdong only exporting three new infections over the weekend. The economic impact was becoming dramatic as shops, restaurants, markets, bars, universities, schools, and many other businesses had closed, while some government ministries and large state banks were working with minimal staff levels.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

On 28 April, WHO declared the outbreak in Vietnam to be over as no new cases were reported for 20 days. On 29 April, leaders of member countries of [[ASEAN]] and the [[People's Republic of China|PRC]] premier held an emergency summit in [[Bangkok]], [[Thailand]] to address the outbreak. Among the decisions made were the setting-up of a ministerial-level task force and uniform pre-departure health screening in airports.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

On 30 April, the World Health Organization lifted the SARS travel warning for Toronto. The decision was made because "it is satisfied with local measures to stop the spread of SARS". Canadian officials said they would step up screenings at airports.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/2986679.stm Toronto travel warning lifted] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060821133646/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/2986679.stm |date=21 August 2006 }} 30 April 2003, ''news.bbc.co.uk''. Retrieved 22 January 2020</ref>

===May 2003===
On 3 May, the [[2003 FIFA Women's World Cup]] was abruptly moved to the United States due to the outbreak. China maintained its automatic qualification and later hosted the Women's World Cup [[2007 FIFA Women's World Cup|four years later]]. On 4 May, the newly infected number of people in Hong Kong dropped to single digits. On 19 May, the WHO Annual Meeting was held in Geneva. Hong Kong pushed for the Tourism Warning to be lifted.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

On 20 May, the WHO refused to lift the Tourism Warning for Hong Kong and Guangdong, but did so three days later after a recount of the number of SARS patients. On 24 May, the number of newly infected patients reached zero for in Hong Kong, the first time since the outbreak in the territory in March.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

On 24 May, a new cluster of about 20 suspected patients was reported in Toronto. By 29 May, more than 7,000 people were instructed to quarantine themselves in Canada by authorities seeking to control the potential spread of the SARS outbreak.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/breaking_news/5965221.htm|title=Canada Broadens Definition of SARS Cases|last=Cohen|first=Tom|agency=[[Associated Press]]|newspaper=[[Kansas City Star]]|date=29 May 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041030134459/http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/breaking_news/5965221.htm|archive-date=30 October 2004}}</ref>

In Taiwan, administrators and staff of Taipei Municipal Hospital's Hoping branch faced disciplinary action from the Taipei City Government.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chuang |first1=Jimmy |title=Hoping investigation now focusing on top officials |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/05/24/2003052423 |access-date=20 April 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=24 May 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516164102/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/05/24/2003052423 |archive-date=16 May 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=SARS doctors' ethics put to the test |url=https://taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/05/26/2003052693 |access-date=19 April 2020 |work=Taipei Times |agency=Reuters |date=26 May 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516141959/https://taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/05/26/2003052693 |archive-date=16 May 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Wu |first1=Debby |title=Hospital officials freed on bail |url=https://taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/05/27/2003052839 |access-date=19 April 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=27 May 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516142520/https://taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/05/27/2003052839 |archive-date=16 May 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Chuang |first1=Jimmy |title=Fate of two Hoping Hospital officials still under review |url=https://taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/05/25/2003052564 |access-date=19 April 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=25 May 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516165801/https://taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/05/25/2003052564 |archive-date=16 May 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Control Yuan]] also launched an investigation into the hospital's closure.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lu |first1=Fiona |title=Control Yuan faults hospital closure |url=https://taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/05/28/2003052972 |access-date=19 April 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=28 May 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516140556/https://taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/05/28/2003052972 |archive-date=16 May 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Taipei City Bureau of Health director Chiu Shu-ti resigned from [[Ma Ying-jeou]]'s mayoral administration on 25 May.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wu |first1=Debby |last2=Chen |first2=Melody |title=City health director steps down |url=https://taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/05/26/2003052700 |access-date=19 April 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=26 May 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516162815/https://taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/05/26/2003052700 |archive-date=16 May 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Wu |first1=Debby |title=City health chief comes under fire |url=https://taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/05/25/2003052550 |access-date=19 April 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=25 May 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516165806/https://taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/05/25/2003052550 |archive-date=16 May 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 27 May, the [[Taichung City Government]], led by mayor [[Jason Hu]], established a command center in central Taiwan to handle SARS.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hsu |first1=Brian |title=Central area unveils new SARS center |url=https://taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/05/28/2003052988 |access-date=19 April 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=28 May 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516150536/https://taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/05/28/2003052988 |archive-date=16 May 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Ministry of Health and Welfare (Taiwan)|Department of Health]] worked with several hospitals in Taiwan to expand medical facilities and treatment for SARS patients.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ten regional hospitals install SARS-patient facilities |url=https://taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/05/26/2003052694 |access-date=19 April 2020 |work=Taipei Times |agency=Central News Agency |date=26 May 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516160847/https://taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/05/26/2003052694 |archive-date=16 May 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 31 May, Singapore was removed from WHO's list of 'Infected Areas'.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

===June 2003===
On 10 June, the [[Ernie Eves#Premier|government of Ontario]] created the [[SARS Commission]] inquiry in order to "investigate the recent introduction and spread of SARS" in the province.<ref name="vol4agc">{{cite book |last=Campbell |first=Archie Gray |title=SARS and Public Health in Ontario (Volume 4) |date=15 April 2004 |publisher=Queen's Printer for Ontario |location=Toronto |isbn=1-4249-2823-0 |url=http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/en/e_records/sars/report/v4-pdf/Volume4.pdf |access-date=2 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224172715/http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/en/e_records/sars/report/v4-pdf/Volume4.pdf |archive-date=24 December 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 23 June, Hong Kong was removed from WHO's list of 'Affected Areas', while Toronto, Beijing, and Taiwan remained. On 27 June, the World Health Organization stated that the world population should be SARS-free within the next two to three weeks, but warned the disease could emerge in China next winter.<ref name="WHO to say nation now free of SARS">{{cite news |title=WHO to say nation now free of SARS |url=https://taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2003/07/05/2003058087 |access-date=19 April 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=5 July 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516141238/https://taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2003/07/05/2003058087 |archive-date=16 May 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===July 2003===
On 2 July, [[Canada]] was removed from the WHO's list of 'Infected Areas'.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

On 5 July, WHO declared the SARS outbreak contained and removed Taiwan from the list of affected areas.<ref>{{cite news |title=Country counting down to day WHO removes it from list |url=https://taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/07/03/2003057834 |access-date=19 April 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=3 July 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516151936/https://taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/07/03/2003057834 |archive-date=16 May 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="WHO to say nation now free of SARS"/> Taiwan's removal from the list signified the end of the outbreak.<ref>{{cite news |title=WHO takes Taiwan off SARS list |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2003/07/06/2003058236 |access-date=19 April 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=6 July 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516142644/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2003/07/06/2003058236 |archive-date=16 May 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===September 2003===
On 8 September, Singapore announced that a post-doctoral worker in a SARS research lab in the [[National University of Singapore]] had contracted the disease while working on the [[West Nile virus]] but recovered shortly thereafter. It was suspected that the two viruses mixed while he was doing his research.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

===December 2003===
On 10 December, a researcher in a SARS lab in Taiwan was found infected with SARS after returning from Singapore attending a medical conference;<ref>{{cite news |last1=Su |first1=Joy |title=Medical researcher contracts SARS |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2003/12/18/2003079998 |access-date=19 April 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=18 December 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516162546/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2003/12/18/2003079998 |archive-date=16 May 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> 74 people in Singapore were quarantined but none of them were infected.

On 27 December, China announced the first suspected case of SARS in six months in Guangdong in an individual who was not a SARS researcher.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

===January 2004===
On 5 January, China confirmed that the case reported in December was a case of wild source SARS. The [[Philippines]] announced a possible case in a person just returned from Hong Kong. The patient was later determined to have had pneumonia and not SARS. In China, [[Asian palm civet]]s were culled in markets (the civets were thought to be a reservoir for the disease).{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

On 10 January, a restaurant worker in Guangdong was confirmed as the second wild source SARS since the outbreak was contained. Guangzhou was also the site of the first case in December and was thought to be the origin of the virus in the original outbreak. Three Hong Kong television reporters who visited SARS-related sites in Guangzhou were declared free of the disease. On 17 January, China announced a third case of SARS in Guangzhou. WHO officials urged more testing to bring the three recently announced cases into line with their standards; however, they also announced SARS virus had been detected by a WHO team in civet cages at the restaurant where the second case worked and in civet cages in the market.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

On 31 January, China announced the fourth case of SARS as a 40-year-old doctor from the southern city of Guangzhou, and gave his family name as Liu. He was discharged when the announcement was made.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

===April 2004===
SARS broke out again in Beijing and in Anhui Province. On 22 April, China announced that a 53-year-old woman had died on 19 April, its first SARS death since June. One person died and nine were infected in the outbreak which was first reported on 22 April.<ref name=":1">{{cite news |last1=Zhang |first1=Feng |date=2 July 2004 |title=Officials punished for SARS virus leak |journal=[[China Daily]] |url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-07/02/content_344755.htm |url-status=live |access-date=14 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219194740/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-07/02/content_344755.htm |archive-date=19 February 2020}}</ref> The first 2 infected cases involved a postgraduate student and a researcher at the National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention (abbrev.: Institute of Virology) of the [[Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention]]; an additional 7 cases were diagnosed, which were linked with close personal contact with the student, the lab or with a nurse who treated the student.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Stephenson |first1=Joan |title=SARS in China |journal=JAMA |date=2 June 2004 |volume=291 |issue=21 |pages=2534 |doi=10.1001/jama.291.21.2534-d }}</ref>

===May 2004===
Two additional confirmed cases of SARS and three additional suspected cases were reported in Beijing on 1 May, all related to a single research lab, the Diarrhea Virus Laboratory in the CDC's National Institute of Virology in Beijing.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Liang |first1=WN |display-authors=etal |title=Severe acute respiratory syndrome – retrospect and lessons of 2004 outbreak in China. |journal=Biomed Environ Sci |volume=19 |issue=6 |pages=445–51 |pmid=17319269 |year=2006}}</ref> "The cases had been linked to experiments using live and inactive SARS coronavirus in the CDC's virology and diarrhea institutes where interdisciplinary research on the SARS virus was conducted."<ref name=":1" /> The total number of cases was six, with four in Beijing and two in [[Anhui]].{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

On 2 May, China announced the three suspected cases as genuine cases of SARS, bringing the total cases in a recent outbreak to nine. 189 people were released from quarantine. On 18 May, after no new infections had been reported in a three-week period, WHO announced China as free of further cases of SARS, but stated that "biosafety concerns remain".<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last1=WHO |title=China's latest SARS outbreak has been contained, but biosafety concerns remain – Update 7 |url=https://www.who.int/csr/don/2004_05_18a/en/ |website=World Health Organization |date=18 May 2004 |access-date=14 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212205529/https://www.who.int/csr/don/2004_05_18a/en/ |archive-date=12 February 2020 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Subsequent status==
In May 2005, Jim Yardley of the ''New York Times'' wrote: {{blockquote|"Not a single case of the severe acute respiratory syndrome has been reported this year [2005] or in late 2004. It is the first winter without a case since the initial outbreak in late 2002. In addition, the epidemic strain of SARS that caused at least 774 deaths worldwide by June 2003 has not been seen outside of a laboratory since then."<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/15/health/after-its-epidemic-arrival-sars-vanishes.html Jim Yardley: After Its Epidemic Arrival, SARS Vanishes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128045809/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/15/health/after-its-epidemic-arrival-sars-vanishes.html |date=28 January 2020 }} 15 May 2005 ''The New York Times''. Retrieved 22 January 2020</ref>}}

== Policy impact ==
In China, the SARS epidemic resulted in substantial public criticism, prompted government statements that privatizing health care in rural China had been a failure, and brought rural reform to the top of the policy agenda.<ref name=":423">{{Cite book |last=Heilmann |first=Sebastian |title=Red Swan: How Unorthodox Policy-Making Facilitated China's Rise |date=2018 |publisher=[[The Chinese University of Hong Kong Press]] |isbn=978-962-996-827-4 |doi=10.2307/j.ctv2n7q6b |jstor=j.ctv2n7q6b |s2cid=158420253 |author-link=Sebastian Heilmann}}</ref>{{Rp|pages=104–105}}

Following the outbreak, China strengthened its reporting mechanisms for contagious diseases and reduced the reporting time from grassroots healthcare worked to the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention from 15 days to 4 hours.<ref name=":Zhang">{{Cite book |last=Zhang |first=Angela Huyue |title=High Wire: How China Regulates Big Tech and Governs Its Economy |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=2024 |isbn=9780197682258}}</ref>{{Rp|page=67}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Viruses}}
* [[Aerosol]]
* [[Air pollution]]
* [[Indoor air quality]]
* [[List of medical professionals who died during the SARS outbreak]]
* [[Severe acute respiratory syndrome–related coronavirus]]
* [[COVID-19 pandemic]]

==References==
===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

===Sources===
{{refbegin}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20030430013641/http://www.cdc.gov/MMWR/mguide_sars.html CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report – SARS section]
* [http://www.openscar.com/ SARS: An Open Scar] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051122010009/http://www.openscar.com/ |date=22 November 2005 }}
* [http://www.webmd.com/news/20030411/sars-timeline-of-outbreak SARS: Timeline of an Outbreak] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070426115411/http://www.webmd.com/news/20030411/sars-timeline-of-outbreak |date=26 April 2007 }}
{{refend}}

{{Clear}}

== Further reading ==
{{Commons-inline|list=
* [[Commons:Category:Public Health Guidance for Community-Level Preparedness and Response to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)|Public Health Guidance for Community-Level Preparedness and Response to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) (2004)]]
}}

{{SARS}}
{{Epidemics}}
{{Health in the People's Republic of China}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:SARS outbreak, 2002-2004}}
[[Category:2002–2004 SARS outbreak| ]]
[[Category:Severe acute respiratory syndrome]]
[[Category:Disease outbreaks in China]]
[[Category:Disease outbreaks in Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Disease outbreaks in Taiwan]]
[[Category:Disease outbreaks in Singapore]]
[[Category:Disease outbreaks in Canada]]
[[Category:2000s epidemics]]
[[Category:2002 disease outbreaks]]
[[Category:2003 disease outbreaks]]
[[Category:2004 disease outbreaks]]
[[Category:2002 disasters in China]]
[[Category:2003 disasters in China]]
[[Category:2004 disasters in China]]
[[Category:2003 disasters in Canada]]
[[Category:2003 in Hong Kong]]
[[Category:2003 in Singapore]]
[[Category:2003 in Toronto]]
[[Category:2003 disasters in Singapore]]