China to test Sars vaccine

China is expected to begin testing a Sars vaccine on humans by the end of next month, after trials on monkeys showed the vaccine was effective in preventing infections.

Monkeys who were inoculated with the vaccine experienced no serious side-effects after they were exposed to the potentially deadly severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) virus, the Xinhua news agency said.

The State Food and Drug Administration is expected to approve clinical tests of the vaccine by the end of the year.