Anti-Sars vaccine two years off completion

Friday, 7 November 2003 12:00 AM

A vaccine against the deadly atypical pneumonia SARS may take at least two years to come on stream, the UN health organisation has confirmed.

Lee Jong Wok, director general of the World Health Organisation, expressed concern that there could a resurgence of the disease which swept across the world last winter, killing 800 people and hospitalising more than 8000 people in its wake.

The disease first appeared in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong last November.

Mr Lee pinpointed continued vigilance and surveillance, early diagnosis, contact tracing and increased international reporting of Sars as key tactics in the fight against the disease.

Mr Lee was speaking after a conference of 50 researchers from more than 15 countries earlier this week.

Although the outbreak was declared officially over in July, the scientists present at the meeting said a further outbreak was high on the cards in the coming months, especially in the Northern Hemisphere.

On a more pessimistic note, the Geneva-based WHO said without another outbreak, a vaccine may take four years to produce.

Trials of the anti-Sars vaccine are expected to start in January 2003.

Tags: