 |
|
| Chinese scientists track SARS virus back to wild animals |
| CCTV.COM 2003-05-24 10:05:21 |
|
 Research shows that it is likely that the SARS virus jumped to humans from civet cats, considered a delicacy by many people in southern China. The World Health Organization welcomed the finding as important and said it would help direct future research into the virus.
The finding was announced on Friday, after months of research work by a group of scientists from Guangdong Province and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Head of Dept. of Microbiology of HK University Yuen Kwok－Yung said, "This corona virus on genomic analysis was found to be very, very similar to the corona virus causing SARS in humans. Looking at the genetic information it looks as if this corona virus has been jumping from this civet into humans."
Yuen said civet cats carried huge amounts of the virus in their stools and respiratory secretions but were not affected. But anyone who reared or slaughtered the animal risked infection if they came in contact with the faeces or respiratory secretions of the mammal. Civet cats are nocturnal animals related to the mongoose, with long tails and catlike bodies.
 The finding will help prevent a repeat of such an epidemic in the future through the use of more hygienic and regulated methods of farming and slaughter.
In Geneva, WHO officials welcomed the finding but warned that it was still too early to jump to firm conclusions.
So far, the SARS disease has infected more than 8,000 people worldwide and killed almost 700.
|
|
Editor: Inner Wu CCTV.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
