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MORE than one billion people worldwide could be infected by the deadly SARS virus within a year, a leading UK scientist has warned.

Dr Patrick Dixon, a specialist in predicting global trends based at London's Development Management School, said SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) had the potential to turn into a pandemic and infect more people than AIDS.

The grim prediction comes as a Melbourne infection control specialist warned the virus could destroy Third World countries.

Glenys Harrington, who flew to Manila yesterday to join the World Health Organisation's assault on SARS, said the virus was a major threat to developing nations.

"Countries that are Third World or very poor may in fact be easily overwhelmed by SARS," she said.

"It could devastate some of these countries. It's important to offer any kind of assistance to them now.

"If we don't have a global effort to help countries that are under-resourced, it can get out of control."