Beijing, Jan 19: In a significant move against the fight against SARS virus, China has allowed scientists to begin human testing of a vaccine against the deadly respiratory disease which would commence soon, an official report said on Monday.
The first phase of clinical study will involve production of a Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) bacterin by killing the bacterium by heating, Xinhua news agency reported.


Scientists hope that testing the bacterin on volunteers will not cause SARS, but instead work to make the human body immune to the disease.

Though China had taken the lead in this field, it would still take time to make the vaccine marketable, said Zheng Youyu, director of the state food and drug administration, who called it a milestone in the country's anti-SARS efforts.

The vaccine was found safe in experiments on animals, including the rhesus monkey, Zheng said. Bureau Report