With the reemergence of SARS, China is poised to undertake the first phase of clinical testing of a vaccine on 40 volunteers to fight the deadly contagious disease.

China Central Television reports China will push ahead with a SARS vaccine and the first round of clinical tests on humans is expected to start in the near future at a Beijing hospital.

Quoting China's SARS vaccine research and development team, the report said the safety of the drug would be the focus of their tests.

Further clinical experiments would center on immunity before it's placed on the market.

Previous tests have shown the vaccine is both safe and efficient and volunteers could return to work following a two-hour observation period.

All tests would be complete within 210 days.

China is the world's first country to approve clinical testing of the anti-SARS vaccine on humans.

(CRI April 26, 2004)