Guest guest Posted May 26, 2003 Report Share Posted May 26, 2003 China Daily http://www1.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2003-05-26/116335.html (HU XUAN) 05/26/2003 SARS has been a nightmare for not only people but also their pets. Many people have reportedly begun to desert or even kill their pets for fear of catching SARS from the animals. But these knee-jerk reactions have no scientific basis and will only aggravate the situation. The over-reaction is largely attributable to some media reports that pets like dogs or cats could carry and spread the SARS virus. Last week, scientists from Shenzhen and Hong Kong linked Himalayan palm civet to the coronavirus that causes SARS. Scientists in Hong Kong have charted a complete genetic map of the SARS-like coronavirus detected in the catlike mammal found in the wild, which shares 99.8 per cent of the genetic code of the human SARS coronavirus. But, as many experts have noted, there is no evidence indicating that household pets are carriers of the virus. Wild animals are not the same as pets. Some experts say that since family pets share the same environment as their owners, no serious problems should arise so long as the same quarantine measures that apply to humans are taken for pets. The latest findings indicate that humans could be responsible for the first case of SARS because of their own actions - for example, eating wild animals. These appetites could result in the transmission of a virus from their animal carriers to people. Abandoning pets will not help to prevent the spread of SARS. Instead, people should give up bad practice such as random spitting and eating wild animals. And the government should strengthen prevention measures, such as quarantine for pets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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