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SARS Linked to New Variation of Common-Cold Virus

NPR | By John McChesney

Published April 9, 2003 at 12:00 AM EDT

Scientists in Hong Kong studying severe acute respiratory syndrome say the flu-like illness may be caused by a previously unknown form of the coronavirus, which also causes the common cold. In a study published in Lancet, researchers say 45 out of 50 people with SARS, which has killed more than 100 people worldwide, have the virus in their blood. Hear NPR's John McChesney.

John McChesney

Since 1979 senior correspondent John McChesney has been with NPR, where he has served as national editor (responsible for domestic news) and senior foreign editor. Over the course of his career with NPR, McChesney covered a variety of beats and traveled extensively throughout Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and Asia. His reports can be heard on NPR's Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Weekend Edition, and newscasts.