SARS Epidemic Timeline

Index Case in Guangdong

Nov 16, 2002

305 cases + 5 deaths

Period: Nov 16, 2002 to Feb 9, 2003

From an unknown acute respiratory system

Liu Jian Lun checked into the Metropole

Feb 18, 2003

He checked into the 9th floor, and had treated patients with symptons similar to pneumonia.

Carlo Urbani first identified virus in an American businessman Johnny Chen, in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Feb 28, 2003

"Mystery disease" spread, killing 60 staff.

Period: Feb 28, 2003 to Mar 21, 2003

Identified virus as corona virus which had jumped species

Mar 11, 2003

First case in Canada

Mar 13, 2003

Toronto Pubic Health HQ, mother and son died after returning from Hong Kong

CDC activates its Emergency Operations Center

Mar 14, 2003

Worldwide Alert Announced

Mar 15, 2003

A worldwide alert was announced by WHO, with a list of symptons, and complied guidelines to hospitals on how to construct isolation camps.

Found index case - Metropole

Mar 19, 2003

306 cases worldwide

Mar 20, 2003

Reached US, Britain, Taiwan, Thailand, Phillipines, Germany, etc. All linked to Hong Kong via flights

Chinese government discloses number of cases was far higher than reported

Apr 20, 2003

SARS outbreak contained worldwide

Jul 5, 2003