SARS Vaccine Likely in Months: Chinese Experts

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, April 29, 2003

SARS Vaccine Likely in Months: Chinese Experts

Chinese scientists believe that vaccine and prescription for preventing and treating severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) are likely to be available in the coming few months.

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Chinese scientists believe that vaccine and prescription for preventing and treating severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) are likely to be available in the coming few months.

Yuan Zhenghong, director of a Shanghai-based national key laboratory under the Ministry of Health, said that local research bodies are now cooperating with Hong Kong and Guangzhou on the study of the SARS vaccine.

Local scientists are expected to put forward a blue print on the development of the vaccine in the near future, he noted.

Prescription for medicines that could be used for healing SARS patients could be available in two or three months, said Ding Jian, deputy director of Shanghai Institute of Medicine under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Since it usually takes eight to 12 years to develop a new drug, local experts plan to work out a prescription by studying on a dozen of existing drugs, Ding said.

Yuan, who is also head of the city's collaboration group on the study of pathogeny, disclosed that Shanghai has developed a reagent that could detect SARS virus in two hours. The reagent proves to be 100 percent correct, he said.

Premier Wen Jiabao Monday applauded the work and bravery of front-line medical staff in combating severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

Many medical workers have made selfless contributions and displayed their humanitarian spirit in the fight against SARS, Wen said.

As of 10 am Monday, the Chinese mainland has reported a total of 3,106 SARS cases, with 139 patients dying from and 1,306 recovering from the disease in its 26 provinces and regions.

In the 24 hours until 10 am Monday, 203 new confirmed SARS cases and 290 new suspected cases were detected in the country.Nine people died from the flu-like illness over the same period.

Of the newly reported cases, 96 are in Beijing, 29 in North China's Shanxi Province, and 38 in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Wen called on medical staff to continue their endeavours to help beat the disease.

Wen Jiabao left Beijing Monday afternoon for the Association of Southeast Asian Nation leaders' special meeting on SARS to be held in Bangkok.

The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee met Monday in Beijing to discuss how to achieve a balance between keeping the economy moving and fighting SARS. It called on all areas and departments to push forward economic development while going all out to combat the SARS epidemic.

The meeting, chaired by Hu Jintao, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, said China would persevere in its policy of expanding domestic demand and maintain its pro-active fiscal policy and prudent monetary policy.

The State Council recently stressed that everyone in China must improve their understanding of the nation's Law on the Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, under which SARS is listed.

Officials who delay reporting of cases, cover up the extent of the epidemic or neglect their responsibilities in fighting the disease will be punished according to the law, said Xiao Donglou, deputy director of the Department of Disease Control with the Ministry of Health.

Meanwhile, governments at various levels are authorized by the law to take emergency measures to limit or stop markets, gatherings, performances or other major public activities, Xiao said.

They can also close down industries, businesses and classes, temporarily take over homes and vehicles, and isolate public water supplies polluted by infectious diseases.

Under the law, several hospitals, residential communities and buildings which have been exposed to the virus have been isolated in Beijing and other cities.

Authorized governmental and non-governmental charities Monday also began receiving overseas and domestic funds to fight SARS.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Ministry of Health, the Red Cross Society of China (RCSC), and China Charity Federation will collect the donations.

Donations can include disinfectants, anti-SARS medicines and medical equipment as well as money, RCSC official Wang Baoming told China Daily Monday.

To make a donation, call the Ministry of Civil Affairs, (8610) 85203158/3159; the Ministry of Health, (8610) 68792177/2155; the RCSC, (8610) 65139999/5933; and the China Charity Federation, (8610) 66083260.

China Telecom has donated 5 million yuan (US$600,000) and telephone cards valued at US$600,000, while China UNICOM has handed over communication equipment and telephone cards worth 6 million yuan (US$720,000) to the Ministry of Health Monday afternoon.

China Mobile also donated 3 million yuan (US$300,000).

"Substantial progress'' has been made in improving co-operation on SARS between the World Health Organization (WHO) and Beijing municipality, WHO expert Jeffrey W. McFarland said in Beijing Monday.

The newly-developed Beijing SARS database, improved by Chinese experts and the WHO expert team, constitute the main achievement, McFarland said during an inspection tour of the Beijing Centre for Disease Control.

A WHO expert suggested the Beijing Municipality further strengthen its surveillance system and enhance investigation of sporadic cases. "(The fight against SARS) is a war, we need little spies to find out where to shoot,'' he said.

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