Skip to comments.
Cats Likely Source of SARS, Say Researchers (Chinese delicacy likely source of deadly virus)
VOA News ^
| 5/23/03
| Katherine Maria
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.
TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: cat; cats; china; civets; disease; epedemiology; epidemic; epidemiology; feline; health; plague; publichealth; quarrantine; respiratory; sars; sickness; syndrome; virus
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-60, 61-80, 81-100 ... 161-168 next last
To: lib-r-teri-ann
Well, some argue it is simply part of their culture- that because they have so many people and so few resources, they must use whatever they can to survive. Now, I of course, think that's bunk. The documentary was horrific. They showed dogs and cats being treated so imhumanely, so barbaric... I am not lying when I said I got physically sick.
One of the things this documentary said is that, in the west, we personify animals. We give them voices and feelings through children's stories, so we grow up in a culture that attributes human feelings to animals. And to a degree, that's very, very true. But I also believe that a child who grows up showing compassion for animals, will show twice as much compassion for humans. Ironically, one of the last things the documentary stated was something based on an old saying or proverb from somewhere... 'You can tell the fate of a civilization by the way it regards animals.' If this belief holds true, China is doomed. And rightfully so.
61
posted on
05/23/2003 2:19:17 PM PDT
by
rintense
(Freedom is contagious. And everyone wants to catch it.)
To: PoorMuttly
Or the dog pound.
62
posted on
05/23/2003 2:21:47 PM PDT
by
FITZ
To: rintense
There is a very good reason that we don't eat predator animals. Mad cow disease is from recycling cow parts including brains and mixing them in with food that is given to an animal that never would eat meat.
63
posted on
05/23/2003 2:25:40 PM PDT
by
FITZ
To: ppaul
I believe SARS is caused by verbal feces.
64
posted on
05/23/2003 2:25:44 PM PDT
by
ido_now
To: FITZ
Bite your tongue.
65
posted on
05/23/2003 3:23:21 PM PDT
by
PoorMuttly
("No Kibble - No Peace"")
To: ppaul
Who? Me?
66
posted on
05/23/2003 3:25:26 PM PDT
by
Revolting cat!
(Subvert the conspiracy of inanimate objects!)
To: ppaul
I didn't do it!
Nobody saw me do it!
You can't prove anything!
67
posted on
05/23/2003 3:26:25 PM PDT
by
Revolting cat!
(Subvert the conspiracy of inanimate objects!)
To: The Pheonix
To your #31 --- That makes sense. I suppose the chef didn't make it, or they would question him.. Did they know if (I'm not trying to be funny) if the cat was on the menu at that time?
68
posted on
05/23/2003 3:32:14 PM PDT
by
Exit148
(Another $3+ for the Loose Change Club contribution tord the next Freepathon!)
To: Roughneck
They eat dogs, too. I wonder if dogs have the coronavirus. My dog gets her Corona/Distemper/Parvo shots to prevent those diseases.
I don't suppose the Chinese have veterinarians who advise inoculation of pets.
... But then, these are not pets to them ...
g
69
posted on
05/23/2003 4:32:12 PM PDT
by
Geezerette
(... but young at heart!-)
To: D. Brian Carter
you are an idiot
70
posted on
05/23/2003 4:43:33 PM PDT
by
SamiGirl
To: ppaul
Anyone that would eat a skinned-alive cat would eat the o-ring from a baboon.
71
posted on
05/23/2003 5:02:50 PM PDT
by
dark_lord
(The Statue of Liberty now holds a baseball bat and she's yelling 'You want a piece of me?')
To: ppaul
Three years ago my nephew's cat contracted a coronavirus and nearly died. After returned to wellness, we had him vaccinated for protection from coronaviruses.
Then he was attacked by a neighbors escaped dog, fled across a street and became road pizza under a van.
Damn, I really miss that cat.
I have owned cats for 45 years and haven't caught a disease from one yet.
To: ppaul
APPEARANCE: The civet cat, found across the world, resembles a large weasel I knew it would be traced to the French.
To: jgrubbs; PoorMuttly; Judith Anne; All
Should this article (#12)have been posted on its own thread?
I thought the finding of SARS in three of eight species tested would bring more interest.
Also,finding SARS in all six civets tested,one badger and one raccoon dog (found wild and domestic over a large part of Asia and Europe) really spooks me.
To: Zavien Doombringer
To: rintense
If this is dooming it, it sure is taking a long time, what 8000 years and counting?
But I understand that cats and dogs are becoming more popular as pets in China. If so it is heartening news. More and more Chinese will become uncomfortable with the idea of deep frying Fluffy or Fido.
To: per loin; Betty Jo
Please check #74 and #12 above.
#12 is the only place I've seen this info.
To: Free Trapper
Have you gone to "GOOOGLE NEWS SARS"?
Hit sort by date.
I don't believe SARS came to humans from animals.
At least not directly.
78
posted on
05/23/2003 7:54:02 PM PDT
by
Betty Jo
To: Betty Jo
I'll try it,thanks.:o)
To: rintense
Another yardstick to measure humanity is to see how nations treat humans, if that's the case, can we add the following nations to your list of cruel peoples'
the Germans-for their inhumanity in WW2
the Australians--for their genocide of the aborogines
the Japanese--for their ecxcessive cruelty during WW2
the Canadians---for clubbing the baby seals to death for their furs
the British--for plundering Africa during their colonial days
the Belgians---for their excessive cruelty to the Congo people in their colonial days
what about our days of slavery, and what about our past treatment of our natives ?
I would not go so far as to say that all Chinese people are cruel, yes, I think a minority are cruel, but the majority are just regular folks, just MHO
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-60, 61-80, 81-100 ... 161-168 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson