China Coped with SARS: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

Although the history of this sickness has been relatively short in comparison to some of the world’s plagues, it brings some international issues with it.

The first confirmed cases of SARS were reported in China in 2003. There were few cases, but global travel in today’s world brought about concerns of the sickness spreading outside China. A victim could easily get on a plane and travel anywhere in the world, thus exposing many people to the risk of acquiring SARS.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome resembles the flu and the common cold in some respects. It is spread through the spit of a victim when he coughs or sneezes or gets his saliva into the air in any other manner. X-rays of SARS victims show characteristics that resemble those of pneumonia while x-rays of the flu do not show those characteristics.

When China became aware of the sickness within its borders, it took measures to contain it. The World Health Organization (WHO) as well as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) expressed fear of SARS becoming a worldwide problem unless worldwide cooperative efforts were made concerning the disease.

Regardless of the sovereignty of any country, it is imperative to control diseases which could affect the entire human race. Disease can easily cross national borders regardless of who is in power in any country.

This time, the disease threat came under control. The next threat to human health may require international action which one country or another may not welcome. After all, the health of all humans is more important than any one country’s sovereignty.