BBC WHOSars virus to animals

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>

>BBC DAILY E-MAIL: UK EDITION

>Friday, 16 January, 2004, 09:00 GMT 01:00 US/Pacific

>

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> * WHO links Sars virus to animals *

>World Health Organization experts find signs of

>a link between civet cats and the Sars virus in

>China.

>Full story:

>http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3401909.stm

>

WHO links Sars virus to animals

By Louisa Lim

BBC correspondent in Beijing

The World Health Organization says it has found

evidence suggesting that civet cats do carry the

Sars virus.

 

Its inspection team in the southern Chinese

province of Guangzhou found traces of the virus

in a restaurant where a suspected Sars patient

worked.

 

It appears that the virus may differ slightly

from that involved in the last outbreak which

killed 800 worldwide.

 

Traces of the virus were found on cages in the

restaurant where civet cats were kept as well as

in a wildlife market.

 

WHO experts say it is good evidence that Sars originated in animals.

 

But they still do not know how the disease spread

to humans and whether it leapt from civets or

from another animal.

 

Chinese scientists announced a link between

civets and Sars more than 10 days ago, prompting

the slaughter of 4,000 animals in Guangdong

Province.

 

But that has been a controversial move and one

official in Beijing has criticised the slaughter

as excessive.

 

Bird flu fears

 

 

There has been one confirmed new case of Sars in

southern China so far and two suspected ones.

 

None have yet infected other people.

 

Scientists in Hong Kong say they believe it is a

new virus strain which is harder to pass on.

 

Chinese authorities have also announced a high

alert against bird flu following an outbreak in

neighbouring Vietnam.

 

Poultry imports from South Korea, Vietnam and Japan have been banned.

 

The World Health Organization has warned that

bird flu could be a bigger problem for the region

than Sars since humans are less well-equipped to

fight the virus.

Story from BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3401909.stm

 

Published: 2004/01/16 05:20:13 GMT

 

© BBC MMIV

 

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