[Smokin' Joe]

On the Marburg Surveillance Thread ( This forum ) we had postulated that fruit bats (migratory) might be a vector by which the primates infected got the disease to pass it on to hunters and others who killed the monkeys for food or came into contact with the bodies. Some bats are pretty large and considered a delicacy in parts of SubSaharan Africa, so direct infection could occur as well if the bats are the vector.

I do not know if research has borne this theory out or not.

This would have helped account for the widespread nature of the individual outbreaks, their intermittent nature, and possibly the association with rainy weather, which would accompany seasonal migration.

But, as far as I know, it is just a theory.

If there is some article which confirms it, and you have a link, please post it--I and others would like to read it as well. (thanks!)

[djf]

If I hear any more, I'll let ya know.