A team of experts arrived in Guangdong Thursday to study the links between the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ) virus and animals.  

The team consists of 14 experts from the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.

The eight foreign experts and six Chinese experts will exchange views with experts in Guangdong province on the possible animal host for the SARS virus and channels of SARS spread.

Guangdong was the site of the earliest SARS outbreak. Guangdong province experts in health, science and technology and agriculture held talks with the team Thursday afternoon.

Guangdong has collected information and data through research on wildlife sales, and interviews with people in the catering industry and confirmed SARS patients.

Agricultural experts were collecting data through study of wildlife, domestic animals and animal markets.

Pierre Formenty, the team head and WHO expert, praised the efforts by Guangdong province, and said the inspection was helpful for international cooperation in combating SARS.

Guan Yi, a team member and an expert of microbiology from the University of Hongkong, said having more knowledge about SARS was important for SARS control in the future.

The team will visit markets, restaurants, a wildlife farm, a pig farm, an agricultural university and the center for disease control and prevention in Guangdong.

(Xinhua News Agency  August 15, 2003)