The SARS virus. Click on the image for larger view.

A LEADING doctor has warned the SARS virus could be more devastating than AIDS.

Dr Patrick Dickson called on world governments to act to stamp out the threat from the deadly respiratory illness. Dr Dixon, one of Europe's experts on predicting global trends, said it could be more dangerous than AIDS because of its ability to spread quickly.

He said: "It is worth remembering that AIDS has infected 80 million people so far over 15 to 20 years.

"AIDS spreads slowly so we can track it and plan for it. We have effective anti- viral drugs which can prolong life. But this is different, we don't have the time. This is a far more serious epidemic potentially than AIDS."

Dr Dixon said his main concern was rural, isolated areas in China and around the world.

He added: "In a country like India, which is chaotic with minimum health provision, the potential for spreading the virus is huge."

Dr Dixon, a fellow at the Centre for Management Development at London Business School, said if current trends continued, there could be a billion cases within 60 weeks. He has called on world leaders to address the problem as a matter of "national security".

The Government yesterday advised Britons not to travel to Toronto, Hong Kong and the Chinese provinces of Guangdong, Beijing and Shanxi because of SARS.

Toronto is the first location outside Asia added to the list.