Posted on 05/23/2003 9:17:52 AM PDT by ppaul
A Hong Kong researcher says a wild animal considered a dining delicacy is the carrier of a virus that causes SARS. The finding fits earlier speculation that Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome originated in wild animals.
Hong Kong University revealed Friday that the civet cat, a wild animal indigenous to southern China, is the likely source of the virus that causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.
Dr. K.Y. Yuen said researchers at the Shenzhen Center of Disease Control found four strains of the virus in a large percentage of civet cats. "From a special type of civet cat, we are able to isolate the coronavirus," he said, "and this coronavirus on genomic analysis was found to be very similar to the coronavirus causing SARS in humans. But if you cannot control the further jumping of such virus from animals to human, the same epidemic can occur again."
The civet, a small long mammal with short legs and a pointed snout, is a delicacy in southern Chinese cuisine. Dr. Yuen says the disease likely jumped from animal to human when it was being killed or prepared for cooking.
But the cats themselves do not display any signs of illness, according to Dr. Yuen, perhaps indicating their immune system might be geared toward controling the virus. Dr. Yuen said the finding might not lead to a vaccine or cure for SARS in humans, but he urged people in China to stop selling the animals in food markets to limit possible transmission of the virus.
In a separate development, the World Health Organization on Friday lifted its travel advisory on Hong Kong and the Chinese province of Guangdong. Hong Kong's leader Tung Chee-hwa welcomed the decision.
The advisory went into effect on April 2, when the WHO saw the disease spreading rapidly through Hong Kong, and no one knew why or how. Airlines, hotels and restaurants suffered huge losses, as tourists and business travelers deferred visits to the region and Hong Kong residents stayed home.
Detected in southern China last November, SARS started spreading in Hong Kong in early March. It was then carried to other cities around the world by airline travelers. The disease, which causes a potentially deadly pneumonia, has afflicted more than 8,000 people worldwide with almost 90 percent of cases occurring in China and Hong Kong. Globally, SARS has killed more than 700 people.
When you step on a blade of grass, does the grass not suffer? What level of moral development are you on? Morality in these matters are all relative. As for the superiority of western civilization, yes I agree there is a temporary superiority. Not one that will last forever or even for that much longer.
They don't treat women so badly over there. Don't believe the PC hype CNN feeds you. Moreover I judge a civilization by more tangible parameters such as demographic, economic, and of course military strength. And in all but demographic, china is number two in the world after the U.S, not bad for a race of "cruel and barbaric" people eh?
NO, a blade of grass does not suffer, don't you know the difference between a conscious, sentient being like a cat, and an unconscious being like a blade of grass? And morality is very far from being relative. What are you saying, because in China torture is practiced therefore in China torture is relatively moral?
And the superiority of Western civilization does not lie primarily in technology or economics, these are secondary side effects. The primary superiority is in the idea that we are all precious in the sight of the Creator, and cruelty, even to an animal, is simply horrible and unacceptable.
Because the Chinese have no such idea, they will never be a great civilization, no matter how far their economy or military goes - all of which I might add, is simply by COPYING the Western world! The Chinese contribute NOTHING original, only copy and steal while screaming how great they are.
Sure pal. You are as barbaric as them. Actually more so since you are in America and should know better since you get exposed to many cultural influences ..... and you opt for the lowest and cruelest.
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There's a breed called Tonkinese, it's a cross between Siamese and Burmese, and you'll be hard pressed to find a more affectionate and personable animal.
Coincidence?
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