Immunization Newsbriefs (c) Copyright Information Inc., Bethesda, MD. Brought to you by the National Network for Immunization Information (NNii). Visit NNii's new website at http://www.immunizationinfo.org.

------------------------------------------------------------

April 21, 2003

INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"SARS Virus Seen as Long-Term Threat"

Washington Post (www.washingtonpost.com) (04/21/03) P. A20; Stein, Rob

According to infectious disease experts, the window for eradicating severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is closed, and the disease has probably achieved a permanent place among human illnesses.  However, it is not clear whether the epidemic will keep growing, though some nations, such as China, will probably be more severely affected than others.  Experts say that China's secrecy over outbreaks of the disease lost any chance of containing it, though it might not have been containable, but technology and alertness helped suspect it more quickly.  Researchers are beginning work on developing a vaccine, but that will take years and may not fully eliminate SARS.

Vaccination News Home Page

ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.