Federal health officials are testing an experimental vaccine for severe acute respiratory syndrome.

Researchers have been studying SARS since it was first recognized in 2002. It sickened 8,096 and killed 774 people worldwide before being contained by quarantine, patient isolation and travel restrictions.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said the agency will test the vaccine on 10 volunteers at the National Institute of Health’s Clinical Center in Bethesda, Md.

The vaccine has worked well in animals. The institute says this study is to see if it’s safe in humans and if the volunteers develop antibodies.

The sudden appearance of SARS, its severity, and its ability to be spread far and fast by international travelers spurred medical researchers. The U.S. researchers developed the vaccine in 21 months - an unprecedented speed. It often takes decades for scientists to develop a successful vaccine against an infectious disease.

“It is truly remarkable that less than two years ago we were facing an unknown global health threat, and now we are testing a promising vaccine that may help us to counter that threat should it re-emerge,” Fauci said.

It’s the second SARS vaccine to be tested. Chinese researchers started human testing of another vaccine in May.

For more information on the U.S. SARS vaccine trial, call the Vaccine Research Center at (866) 833-LIFE.