EUROPE/SWITZERLAND - RESEARCHERS HUNT FOR SARS VIRUS CARRIER, WHO SAYS NO VACCINE FOR TWO YEARS AT LEAST

Roma (Fides Service) – Early diagnosis, surveillance, infection control in health structures and exchange of information at national and international level are the points stressed by 50 researchers working on the Sars virus in 15 different nations. The researchers are looking for infective agents involved, any animal reservoir where the virus could be living and potentially threaten to infect human beings again. Recent studies show that the role of the Sars corona-virus is too limited to be the sole infective agent responsible for the Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome. According to Director General of the World Health Organisation Dr. Lee, despite research efforts all over the world and considerable progress achieved, it will take at least two years to produce a vaccine to prevent SARS. (AP) (6/11/2003 Fides Service; lines:14 words:151)