The outbreak of SARS (Severe acute respiratory syndrome), an atypical pneumonia, has received much attention and coverage by the media and has consequently had a high impact on the public. The infectivity and route of transmission of the disease appear unusual, and it turned out to be a highly relevant threat for medical staff.
This monograph provides comprehensive information on the newest insights into the SARS epidemic and the responsible infectious agent. Background information on Coronaviridae (coronavirus/torovirus) and coronavirus/torovirus-associated infections in humans and animals is also given.
The volume will be a valuable source of information for researchers and clinicians in virology, epidemiology and biomedicine.

Provides insights into a new epidemic Gives background information about coronaviruses Authored by leading scientists Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Inhalt
Coronaviridae: a review of coronaviruses and toroviruses.- Coronavirus infections in veterinary medicine.- Severe acute respiratory syndrome: clinical features.- SARS coronavirus infection: pathology and pathogenesis of an emerging virus disease.- Genome organization and structural aspects of the SARS-related virus.- Virological laboratory diagnosis of SARS.- Performance evaluation of a Bayer Healthcare Diagnostics research-based SARS coronavirus assay.- Current status of therapy of SARS.- Coronavirus main proteinase: target for antiviral drug therapy.- Environmental survival and microbicide inactivation of coronaviruses.- Disease management strategies in SARS.