Volunteers receiving severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) vaccine in a clinical test show no obvious signs of side effects so far, said Zhong Nanshan, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, at an international seminar held in Shanghai Saturday.

Zhong said that the results of the research will be released in January 2005 after researches determine the effectiveness of the vaccine.

From May to August this year, 36 volunteers received China's first SARS vaccine at another clinical test. Eighteen of them received an injection of low-dosage SARS inactivated vaccine while the other 18 received a high dosage. Except for symptoms of side effects of the drug such as fever and discomfort, volunteers showed no other adverse reactions and their health was in good condition.

The antibody in volunteers' blood serum has increased by various levels, but the effectiveness of the vaccine is yet to be verified, said Zhong.

Zhong said there is little chance of another serious SARS outbreak in China as long as labs and wild animals are managed correctly and the four "early" measures are enforced. The measures are: early detection, early report, early isolation and early treatment.

Beginning this year, the country has improved its management of labs doing SARS research, and banned the sales and consumption of civet cats, said Zhong.

(Xinhua News Agency November 28, 2004)