Genetic Code of SARS Virus Broken

The genetic code for the SARS virus has been broken. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) this was officially confirmed by WHO specialists at a press conference in Peking yesterday. Epidemiologists say that a coronavirus is the cause of SARS or 'atypical pneumonia'.

Until now the deadly virus has killed 160 people although more than 3.5 thousand people have been infected. Moreover, these figures may not be totally accurate as the military hospitals in China do not come under the jurisdiction of the Chinese Health Ministry. WHO specialists have visited two such hospitals and saw at least two patients with SARS symptoms. The Chinese government has made no mention of this however.

The genetic code was broken by scientists at Hong Kong university. The discovery will make it possible to create a vaccine against the virus.