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July 07, 2003

INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS

“SARS Declared Contained, With No Cases in Past 20 Days”

New York Times (www.nytimes.com) (07/06/03) P. A4; Bradsher, Keith 

The World Health Organization (WHO) said Saturday that severe acute

respiratory syndrome (SARS) has been contained, but it cautioned that the

virus that causes the disease could still be a threat.  No new cases have

been reported to the WHO since June 15, twice the assumed incubation period

for the virus, which has infected 8,439 people and killed 812.  There is no

vaccine or reliable cure for SARS as yet, and U.S. officials have suggested

that SARS may end up being a seasonal disease that returns in the winter. 

However, the WHO’s Dr. David L. Heymann said that it is too soon to tell if

SARS is seasonal, and he noted that nations must continue surveillance for

at least the next year.