The World Health Organisation has warned that Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, that killed around 700 people early this year, could return in 2004.

Also Read SARS: Complete coverage

A WHO official in Paris said unless an efficacious cure or vaccine was found, SARS outbreaks could occur again, with measures to control the deadly flu only helping to slow it down, a news report of Vietnam News Agency said.

SARS epidemic erupted in China early this year, and rapidly spread throughout Asia and Northern America.

Over 8,000 people, mostly in China, contracted the disease, and the death toll reached 700.

The total cost of the disease to Asian countries was estimated at $ 18 billion, the news report said.