he MeSH Section has added another new descriptor, SARS VIRUS, for the organism that causes the disease SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME. Indexing with this descriptor began April 22, 2003.

The new descriptor is not listed in the printed MeSH tools as it was added after the MeSH tools were published. It was available in the MeSH Browser on April 21, 2003. You may want to add the following to your MeSH tools:

SARS VIRUS

B04.820.504.540.150.750

B04.909.777.500.540.150.750

A species of CORONAVIRUS causing atypical respiratory disease (SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME) in humans. The organism is believed to have first emerged in Guangdong Province, China, in 2002.

Related note: The tree numbers and scope note for the new disease heading SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME have changed. Check the MeSH Browser for the latest information. [Editor's note: The article, New MeSH Descriptor: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). NLM Tech Bull. 2003 Mar-Apr;(331):e5. has been updated to reflect the new tree number and scope note.]

For the latest information on the virus and disease, you can search:

By Allan Savage
MeSH Section

Savage A. New MeSH Descriptor: SARS Virus. NLM Tech Bull. 2003 Mar-Apr;(331):e12.