The general objective is the prevention and control of SARS epidemics in human population.

The specific objectives are:

• To prevent the re-emergence of SARS from its animal reservoir:
  
  • By identifying the animal reservoir of SARS-like coronavirus (CoV) through
    animal surveys in China including:
    • The study of animal systematics and ecology,
    • The detection and isolation of SARS-like CoV,
  • By analysing the circumstances of emergence of the SARS epidemic in
    November 2002 in the Guangdong Province, China,
  • By providing recommendations to prevent re-emergence from the animal
    reservoir.
    
• To control the spread of SARS in human populations:
  
  • By analysing risk factors for SARS transmission in community and hospitalbased
    epidemics in Beijing (March to June 2003),
  • By identifying clinical and viro-immunological determinants of long-term viral
    excretion in convalescent patients,
  • By re-assessing infection control measures in hospital and laboratory settings
    during the past SARS control interventions in China and France,
  • By providing recommendations for the prevention of SARS transmission in
    community, hospital, and laboratory settings.