Guest guest Posted November 28, 2004 Report Share Posted November 28, 2004 http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/newse/20041124wo71.htm HEV may have spread from wild boar meat Latest news as of: November 28, 2004 Yomiuri Shimbun Government researchers have found the DNA of the hepatitis E virus in wild boars trapped in four prefectures, Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry research groups have reported. The DNA that was found is very similar to that found in hepatitis E patients who contracted the virus last year in Hyogo and Tottori prefectures, strongly suggesting that the people contracted the virus from wild boar meat. Noting that heat kills the virus, the ministry has urged people to cook wild boar thoroughly and avoid eating it raw or rare. Two research groups captured 85 wild boars in Nagano, Aichi, Wakayama, Hyogo and Nagasaki prefectures between last November and April. The researchers detected the virus' DNA in the liver and blood of eight boars--three each in Hyogo and Nagasaki prefectures and one each in Aichi and Wakayama prefectures. Among these, the DNA found in boar in Aichi, Wakayama and Hyogo prefectures was virtually identical to that found in the patients. In Nagasaki and Tottori prefectures last year, the virus was discovered in a number of people, each of whom had eaten wild boar meat and liver. The boar meat had been strongly suspected as the cause, but until now, researchers had not found any decisive evidence. Copyright 2004 The Yomiuri Shimbun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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