SARS: Consequences for nurses, intensive care units and the health care system in Hong Kong

Abstract

The outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in Hong Kong had a devastating effect on the lives of the public and health care professionals. The agent that causes SARS is a new coronavirus, unlike any other known human or animal virus in the coronavirus family. The rate of deterioration of patients with SARS is alarmingly high with many requiring intensive care. Planning for future outbreaks of SARS requires a collaborative effort.