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| Chinese scientists trace SARS virus to wild animals |
| CCTV.COM 2003-05-25 09:05:10 |
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Chinese scientists say they have traced the SARS virus to civets and some other wild animals. Investigation is underway for a possible link to the outbreak of the killer virus in humans.
This could be a major breakthrough in humanity's fight against SARS. For months, researchers have been working around the clock to determine the source of the killer virus.
On Friday, Hong Kong and Shenzhen experts announced it was likely the SARS virus had jumped to humans from certain wild animals.
Researchers from the University of Hong Kong examined 25 animals representing eight species in a live animal market in Guangdong and found the SARS virus in all six masked palm civets they sampled, as well as in a badger and a raccoon dog.
Five out of 10 people in the business of wild animals also tested positive for the SARS virus.
Hong Kong has suspended the import of civet meat, considered a delicacy by many people in southern China.
On Saturday, China's Ministry of Agriculture reported experts in Guangdong have found a type of coronavirus in bats, monkeys, civets and snakes they sampled. This coronavirus has the same genomic sequencing as the SARS virus.
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Editor: Han Ling CCTV.com
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