Home>News Center>China
       
 

Does SARS virus still exist in the wild?
By Zhang Feng (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-02-23 02:07

Does the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) virus still exist in the wild? Where will it come from if an epidemic breaks out again?

Experts are still arguing these questions.

Farmers in Henan Province free the raised palm civets on December 28, 2004. [newsphoto]
An American scientist was quoted as saying the killer virus has been contained so effectively that it can be considered eradicated.

However, experts from China, where the epidemic first broke out, say it is too optimistic to say that now, since scientists still do not really know the real source of the virus.

Scientists are confident that SARS no longer exists in the wild and has essentially disappeared as a threat, said Kathryn Holmes, a professor of Microbiology at the University of Colorado.

The epidemic strain has not been seen in nature since June 2003, she said at the American Association for the Advancement of Science conference early this week, The Times reported.

She also said that China's Himalayan palm civets, thought to be the most likely source of the SARS virus, have been wrongly blamed, and do not harbour the epidemic strain.

For SARS to return as a threat, it would have to evolve again from scratch or be released in a laboratory accident or bio-terror attack, she said.

"It is too early to say that the corona virus, which caused the SARS epidemic, does not exist in the wild any longer because up to now experts still failed to find the origin of the virus at all," said Liu Qiyong.

Liu, a leading expert from Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, has continued doing research on the SARS source around China since the outbreak of the epidemic in 2003.

He said that people cannot say the virus has been eradicated only because "we have not found it."

Liu added that he and his group have found the same SARS virus in Himalayan palm civets and many other wild animals since early 2004.

However, Liu admitted that he has failed to find the virus in any wild animals since June 2004.

No evidence can fully prove that the palm civet is the source of the virus, and it only played a role of an "amplifier," which is susceptive for the SARS virus and made it spread wider, Liu said.

SARS still exists "out there" - probably still in a species of wild animals (not just the civet) - and could therefore "resurface" at any time, said Roy Wadia, World Health Organization spokesman in Beijing.

He recalled the Ebola virus, which emerged out of "nowhere" in central Africa, and claimed many lives, only to "vanish" again for several years before re-emerging later.

Although arguments continue, experts all agree that, if SARS were to re-occur, it could be contained quickly because several vaccines against it have been developed, along with better treatment methods and prevention experiences.

Biosafety standards at laboratories that carry out work on the SARS corona virus need to be strengthened not only in China but around the world, said Wadia.

"We still do not have a SARS vaccine for the general population, although trials are going on in China and the United States," said Wadia.

"SARS can still pose a threat, and should be taken very seriously," he noted.

(China Daily 02/23/2005 page2)



 
  Today's Top News     Top China News
 

North Korea is willing to return to nuclear talks

 

   
 

Beijing pushes for cross-Straits air cargo

 

   
 

Earthquake strikes Iran, killing 377

 

   
 

Goliaths compete for nuclear plant pact

 

   
 

Does SARS virus still exist in the wild?

 

   
 

Private cash to help build railway line

 

   
  Beijing plans seawater swimming pool
   
  Organic food booms in provinces
   
  Household service expands
   
  China vows to keep its environment clean
   
  Warmer weather expected today, tomorrow
   
  Man kills six in knife attack in Xinjiang
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  Related Stories  
   
SARS, bird flu to be included as occupational diseases in HK
   
First SARS vaccine trials a success
   
First SARS vaccine trials a success
   
Beijing sets up SARS alarm system
   
Beijing sets up SARS alarm system
   
Guangdong alert to possible SARS, bird flu outbreak
   
Expert: SARS more likely in warm winter
  News Talk  
  It is time to prepare for Beijing - 2008  
Advertisement
         
主站蜘蛛池模板: 一本加勒比HEZYO无码专区| 国产成人精品免高潮在线观看| 久久久噜噜噜www成人网| 欧美日韩人妻精品一区二区三区| 动漫卡通精品3d一区二区| 野花社区视频www| 国产欧美在线观看视频| 91国内揄拍·国内精品对白| 夫妇当面交换中文字幕小说| 亚洲人成网国产最新在线 | 老公和他朋友一块上我可以吗| 国产成人免费在线观看| 老司机天堂影院| 国产精品视频一区二区三区不卡| 亚洲乱色伦图片区小说| 一级做α爱过程免费视频 | 四虎4hu永久在线观看| 91香蕉视频在线| 小蝌蚪app在线观看| 中文字幕无码乱人伦| 日本污视频网站| 久久综合九色综合欧洲| 欧美一级片在线| 免费看欧美成人性色生活片| 亚洲第一成人在线| 国产美女牲交视频| 99久久综合狠狠综合久久aⅴ| 嫩草影院在线入口| 丁香色欲久久久久久综合网| 扒丝袜永久网址pisiwa| 久久久久亚洲AV综合波多野结衣 | 日韩精品武藤兰视频在线| 亚洲区小说区图片区qvod| 欧美换爱交换乱理伦片免费| 亚洲欧美电影在线一区二区| 老扒系列40部分阅读| 国产内射999视频一区| 黄网站色年片在线观看| 国产成人精品一区二区秒拍| 欧美污视频网站| 国产精品一二三区|