Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome or SARS is characterized by fever higher than 38.0 degrees Celsius and one or more respiratory symptoms including cough, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing. According to the World Health Organization, SARS is spread from person to person but only through close contact with a case. In some cases the respiratory illness progresses to severe respiratory difficulty and death.

According to Health Canada, their scientists at the National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) in Winnipeg are now able to report that they have found evidence of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) in specimens from six of the eight cases they are studying. The metapneumovirus is part of paramyxoviridae family. These findings are consistent with the results previously released by scientists in Germany and Hong Kong.

The findings of the NML are significant in that a common thread has been found in a majority of cases in Canada. This is a promising step in the ongoing investigation. Scientists will continue their work to try to verify the findings and to determine if there are other factors involved that are influencing the severity of this outbreak. These findings will not likely alter the current treatment for SARS patients.