Cats Likely Source of SARS, Say Researchers (Chinese delicacy likely source of deadly virus)

VOA News ^ | 5/23/03 | Katherine Maria

[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.

[Physicist]

I just knew this was the fault of Cats!

[sourcery]

Garfield, call your office!

[D. Brian Carter]

One of my favorite bumper stickers: "I love cats. They taste just like chicken".

And one of my favorite lines to use on cat lovers to truly show my disdain... "cats are for kickin' and eatin'"...

Apologies to the feline fans.

[GOP_1900AD]

So they traced the source. This still begs the question, was it natural or assisted? If natural, then why didn't it happen 1000 years ago?

[Physicist]

And I was so looking forward to what "Iron Chef Chinese" Chen Kenichi would do with it, when Chairman Kaga unveiled civet cat as the special ingredient.

[Exit148]

"So they traced the source.

I wonder what made them even think of the civet cat, in the first place?

[Physicist]

Civet "cats" are not cats. They do have cat-like faces, but are in the same family as the mongoose.

So civets are actually a kind of goose? ;^)

[Britton J Wingfield]

All your lung are belong to us.

[Spruce]

Hey! Who doesn't like to eat some pu**y once in a while?

[Dog Gone]

as well as in a badger and a raccoon dog.

Not in a 'coon dog!!!

I'm going to go out in the back yard and shoot Ol' Yeller right now.

[The Pheonix]

They probably suspected exotic wild animals, because the first SARS victim was a Guangdong chef who is famous for his exotic meat cooking skills.

They suspected the SARS virus might have originated in poulty but the first several victims were not poulty farm workers. So, it points to this chef, and points to other animals. They might have tested all the types of exotic animals this chef cooks

[txzman]

LOL! With the large Texas cats at my house, you'd better kick, -- run! ---, then eat. And when you eat it should be in another room. LOL.

[Constitutionalist Conservative]

Not just any old cats. Space alien cats.

[Free Trapper]

Animals of all kinds from all over the world are sent to the Asian markets.

SARS could have been sent to Asia from anywhere in the world if it didn't spring up in China,itself.

[xkaydet65]

ROTFLMAO!!!!

[PoorMuttly]

...All your infected mongeese are belong to us !...

Ever notice how most Chinese restaurants in the U.S. are situated next to pet shops or animal hospitals ?

No joke...they really are.

[PoorMuttly]

Interesting point.

[DannyTN]

"Civet "cats" are not cats. They do have cat-like faces, but are in the same family as the mongoose.

But can you tell the difference between the two when they are in Mongolian pork?

[The Pheonix]

Exotic meat should cost much more than farm bred animals,isn't it? Farming livestock have economy of scale, whereas exotic meat is available only when some hunters happens to bag one

so, why would any Chinese restaurant serve you exotic meat when farm meat are so much cheaper

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Interesting to say the least. Here's a link that might be of interest I posted today:

Click here.