Efforts to Contain SARS Showing Progress

Health measures designed to rein in the virus causing severe acute respiratory disease (SARS) are proving to be effective in many countries, according to scientists recently convened by the World Health Organization (WHO, Geneva, Switzerland) to review the latest data on the disease.

The consensus was that health measures that have contributed to this progress are the earliest possible detection and treatment of people suspected of having SARS, the immediate quarantining of all those who have had any contact with them, and early information and travel warnings to the public on areas with dangerous outbreaks of SARS.

The scientists found no evidence that insects or animals can spread the virus, and no evidence was found that infected individuals were able to spread the virus before becoming ill. Data have confirmed that the virus is mainly spread by droplets from the sneezes and coughs of infected people to those who have been in close contact with them. People with SARS appear to be most infectious during the second week of illness. However, all cases should be treated as highly infectious from the very first symptom in order to minimize the possibility of transmission to others.

In a related development, German researchers have found that an experimental drug tested as a common cold remedy might be modified to fight the SARS virus. The drug, known as AG-7088, is in clinical trials for treatment of rhinovirus, which causes colds. The compound itself could not be used to treat SARS but it could represent a good starting point for designing a SARS drug, reported the researchers, from the University of Luebeck (Germany).