'Sars bug beaten by scientists'.

SARS, the lung disease which caused worldwide panic two years ago, has been beaten, experts say.

Scientists do not think it will return to infect humans unless there is an unlucky escape from a lab or the virus mutates into an entirely new form.

After passing from wild animals in China in 2002, it affected more than 8,000 people and killed 774.

Since then, ways of detecting the cold-like virus have been found.

Laboratories have developed antibodies to treat patients, and vaccines are also available.

Dr Kathryn Holmes of the University of Colorado said: "If an animal strain mutated again, we could get an outbreak. But so far the strain is not being harboured in animals.

"I think it's a triumph of modern science and medicine that this has happened so quickly."

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Publication:	The Mirror (London, England)
Date:	Feb 21, 2005
Words:	133
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