Coronavirus versus Sars – a tale of two viruses
- These are the similarities and differences between the latest health emergency and its predecessor, Sars, which affected more than 8,000 people in 37 countries
- The two diseases are genetically similar and both have flu-like symptoms, but the new virus is clinically milder
According to Chinese health authorities, 259 people have succumbed to the new virus, with thousands more cases reported on the mainland. So far, almost 12,000 people have been infected, far exceeding that of the 2002-03 Sars epidemic.
The two viruses share similar symptoms. Carriers of the latest coronavirus experience fever, malaise, dry cough, shortness of breath and occasionally respiratory distress, according to a number of medical journals. The virus carriers’ vital signs have been stable in most cases, but leukopenia, a decrease in white blood cells, and lymphopenia, a reduction in the white blood cells known as lymphocytes, were common, studies say.
Similarly, Sars also usually brings with it flu-like signs – including fever, chills, muscle aches, headache and occasionally diarrhoea. Both viruses are known to cause pneumonia.
