A leading Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) scientist was quoted by Sunday's Beijing News Daily as saying that new viral strains are mutating rapidly in civet cats, suspected of carrying the SARS virus, and that people should not lower their guard against another epidemic.

"Strict control of civet cats has helped prevent a SARS outbreak this year," said Zhong Nanshan, "The country has been taking positive measures to reduce contact between humans and possible SARS carriers and has been developing effective diagnosis reagents and vaccines."

Experts spotted four cases of a new strain in south China's Guangdong Province from 2003 to 2004 which carries similar genetic material to a civet cat virus, Zhong said.

He did not agree with the conclusion of an American scientist that the SARS virus has disappeared since it has not shown up since June last year.

Zhong, director of the Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Diseases, has just been appointed president of the Chinese Medical Association, becoming its second non-official head.

He is one of the leading scientists who helped control the spread of the SARS in China in 2003.

(Xinhua News Agency May 9, 2005)