[Severe acute respiratory syndrome: update]

INTRODUCTION: The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) has recently been recognised as a new clinical entity and a new emerging infectious disease that is highly contagious with significant mortality. CURRENT KNOWLEDGE AND KEY POINTS: By the end of 17 June 2003, a total of 8500 cases included 800 deaths had been reported from 30 countries. The cause of SARS has been identified as a new corona virus. In this manuscript, we describe the clinical features, biological findings, virological tests, radiological assessment, outcome and treatments of this infection. FUTURE: Research on specific therapies and vaccines is on-going.