Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a new viral respiratory illness first identified in humans in early 2003, after first appearing in southern China in November 2002.
SARS is caused by an infection with the SARS virus. The SARS virus is a previously unrecognized coronavirus called SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV).
The SARS virus is spread through close contact with an infected person. It can be passed either through the air or by touching a contaminated surface.
Incubation Period for SARS
The time between exposure to the SARS virus and the onset of SARS symptoms is called the incubation period. The incubation period for SARS is typically two to seven days, although in some cases, it may be as long as 10 days. In a very small proportion of cases, incubation periods of up to 14 days have been reported.