Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) was a strain of coronavirus that started in Southern China in late 2002, and later on spread to more than two dozen countries. This dangerous virus left almost 800 people dead worldwide.
The SARS virus easily spread from person-to-person. When the initial outbreak occurred, the Chinese government tried to hide it. However, with international pressure closing in, China finally confirmed the outbreak. The symptoms of SARS include high fever (>38 degree Celsius), dry cough and shortness of breath.
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) was more recent, and was first seen in Saudi Arabia in 2012. It is also a strain of the coronavirus and was responsible for more than 850 deaths. MERS virus is easily passed from person-to-person.
The symptoms include fever, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, throat and body pain, stomach aches, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.
Out of the two strains the SARS virus is most similar to the current Novel Coronavirus that has affected more than 800 people and has left 25 dead so far in China.
Novel Coronavirus affects the respiratory system of a human, and is believed to have originated from animals. Recently, Chinese authorities have confirmed that the virus does spread from human-to-human, as health workers got the virus from a patient.
The Novel Coronavirus is susceptible to cause pneumonia in humans. The symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath and difficulty in breathing.
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