The World Health Organization (WHO) would like to acknowledge its indebtedness to all the authors of the reports on clinical trials contained within this document. Their hard work and dedication is reflected within each report.

Special thanks is given to the Nippon Foundation for providing their generous support throughout the entirety of this project, including funding the WHO International Expert meeting to review and analyse clinical reports on combination treatment for SARS, 8-10 October 2003, Beijing, People's Republic of China, as well as publishing the document.

WHO would like to express its appreciation to the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China for their involvement in the development of this document by collecting the reports, as well as kindly hosting the above-mentioned meeting to review them.

WHO would also like to thank the participants of the above-mentioned meeting, who contributed their comments and expertise in order to ensure that the reports on clinical trials contained within this document are acceptable and provide adequate and reliable information.

In addition, thanks are due to Mr Ruiping An for his assistance in referencing the original Chinese documents to clarify questions regarding the translation.

Finally, due to the complexity of this document, the Traditional Medicine Team (TRM) at WHO Headquarters relied on the advice and support of many colleagues during the development of this document. Therefore, TRM would like to extend a thank you, in particular, to the Department of Communicable Disease Surveillance and Response and relevant staff at the Regional Office for the Western Pacific.