More than 1,000 scientists, doctors and government officials began a two-day conference in Kuala Lumpur in an attempt to find causes and cures for the mysterious and deadly SARS virus.

The conference has been organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO), which has led global efforts to control what it calls the first major international epidemic of the 21st century.

"The purpose of this meeting is to review the scientific findings on Sars and examine whether current control measures are effective or not," said WHO regional director for Western Pacific Shigeru Omi.

"We will discuss whether Sars can be eradicated, see if there is an animal reservoir and see whether there is room for improvement of the current control measures."

Under control

Omi said in an opening address that the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) epidemic "is coming under control but the fight is by no means over".

"The global situation is getting better. We are monitoring four areas: Taiwan, Beijing, Hong Kong and Toronto. Only these areas remain, this is a tremendous improvement from the start of the outbreak."

But, he added: "Sars has not been defeated. We must be better prepared next time."

Much research needed to be done on the production of vaccines and anti-viral drugs and increasing the sensitivity of diagnostic tests, he said.

Sars has killed nearly 800 people and infected around 8,500 since it first emerged in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong in November last year.

Scientists have traced the illness to a new type of the coronavirus, which is from the family that causes the common cold, but a vaccine or cure for the illness is years away.

Improving conditions

On the origins of the pneumonia-like disease, Omi said: "I think the WHO has enough evidence that Sars began in Guangdong.

"In regards to whether it is from animal or not, no confirmation has been made. We are collaborating with China to make a final decision."

Asked at a news conference how soon warnings against travel to Beijing and Taiwan could be lifted, he said: "We are evaluating the situation daily but no decision has been made.

"I think the situation in Beijing and Taiwan is getting better.

"The surveillance system and control measures are improving. The quality of surveillance in China is improving daily, but of course there is room for improvement."

He said the statistics reported by the Chinese government, which was accused of a cover-up in the early days of the outbreak, were "reliable".

"There is strong political commitment by the government," he said.

More information needed

Geneva-based WHO technical officer Mark Salter said ahead of the conference that the WHO hoped that within a few months the Sars outbreak would be completely under control.

"We hope in the next few months we are in a position to say the box is now closed.

"What we need to ensure, though, is that the box is closed tight, but to do that we still need a lot more information about the virus, the disease and how the disease spreads among the population."

Malaysia's Health Minister Chua Jui Meng said Southeast Asia faced a major effort to bolster its defences, but added: "We must remember that in this region we are more likely to be invaded by new microbes than by a foreign army." -- AFP