State media says China’s SARS vaccine trials will be finished by January 2005. Final trials on a new SARS vaccine (on volunteers) have been ongoing since May 2004. Dr Zhong, head of the trials, said trial results have been great. Volunteers have suffered no more than minor flu type symptoms. Authorities at the Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Diseases say they have identified isolated cases of respiratory illness as winter arrives. The Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Diseases director says SARS will not re-emerge as long as the country maintains strict vigilance - this involves being firm on the trade in wildlife, especially civet cats (believed to be carriers of SARS virus). Dr Zhong says labs must take measures to make sure there are no incidences of SARS spreading among lab workers. A recent outbreak originated from a research laboratory.
