Russian Expert: Sars Epidemic To End Soon

The SARS epidemic can end in the course of two months, Oleg Kiselev, Director of The Flu Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

According to him, the development of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or atypical pneumonia, epidemic, has reached a stage where the number of patients grows and the geography of its proliferation enlarges. However, Kiselev underlined, the growth and spreading rates of the disease are relatively low: "they cannot even be compared with the rate of spreading of the flu during an epidemic." The low rate of SARS incidence growth, and the fact that the number of lethal cases isn't growing either, suggest that "the infection can be controlled," Kiselev went on to say. The fact that in the United States none of the 38 SARS cases had lethal outcome proves that in certain conditions the disease can be successfully treated, the Flu Institute director believes.

According to him, the conditions include a quick and effective diagnosis system, the early show-up of patients, adequate treatment during early stages of the disease and high professional level of reanimation doctors.