severe acute respiratory syndrome

noun

: sars

Examples of severe acute respiratory syndrome in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Since the 2003 outbreak of SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, when Chinese officials faced accusations of covering up the true number of infections, Chinese leaders have repeatedly warned officials not to cover up or delay reporting of deaths and cases. —Liyan Qi, WSJ, 21 Jan. 2022

The pathogen that causes the disease known as SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, appeared out of nowhere in 2002, jumping from bats to a mongoose-like mammal known as the Asian palm civet and then to humans in China’s southeastern Guangdong province. —David Willman, Washington Post, 12 Apr. 2023

Thai researchers had long monitored the bats for deadly strains of viruses known to infect humans, including rabies and severe acute respiratory syndrome, called SARS. —David Willman and Joby Warrick, Anchorage Daily News, 11 Apr. 2023

First there was the 2003 epidemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, which killed 774 people, mostly in China and Hong Kong. —Karen Kaplanscience and Medicine Editor, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2023

The the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is still spreading, and new variants of the virus are still emerging. —Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 4 May 2023

In the spring of 2003, alarmed to hear health officials playing down the threat of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, Dr. Jiang sent a letter to several news organizations refuting the official story. —Amy Qin, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2023

That disease became known as SARS — severe acute respiratory syndrome. —Helen Branswell, STAT, 3 Aug. 2023

Hmm, a politician trying to make the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) about race without providing adequate scientific evidence? —Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 16 July 2023

Word History

First Known Use

2003, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

severe acute respiratory syndrome

noun

: sars

In late 2002 and early 2003 epidemiologists in Ottawa, Ontario were able to … identify and help stop the spread of an outbreak of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) that began in China.

—Larry Brilliant, Forbes