- Hello Jeff - In an attempt to prevent another SARS outbreak
in China this winter, the Chinese Government is banning the sale of civet
cat meat in Guangdong.
-
- Although civet cats are susceptible to the SARS coronavirus,
it is unclear which came first, SARS in civet cats or SARS in humans.
I happen to believe humans contracted SARS and infected civet cats.
-
- The real danger of another SARS outbreak, or SARS pandemic,
is that from biolabs studying the virus.
-
- Patricia Doyle
-
- China Proposed Ban On Sale Of Civet Cat Meat
In Guangdong
-
- China Daily
- Wed 20 Oct 2004
- A ProMed Mail Post
-
- To prevent a winter return of the deadly SARS virus,
a senior Chinese health official will visit southern Guangdong province
this month [October 2004] to map out measures such as banning civet cat
from menus, a newspaper said on Mon 18 Oct 2004. Initiatives to be hammered
out by Vice Minister of Health Wang Longde and provincial officials would
include banning restaurants from cooking and serving high-risk animals,
such as civet cats, Hong Kong's Wen Wei Po said.
-
- Chinese health experts have concluded that the civet
cat, considered a delicacy in the south, was a primary source of last year's
[2003] SARS epidemic. Thousands of civets were killed in Guangdong province
in January [2004] because of fears they may carry a form of the virus that
can jump to humans. Guangdong would be the focus of Wang's move, and the
measures for civet cats there would not be extended to the whole country,
the newspaper said.
-
- The civet is a small carnivorous mammal found in Asia
and Africa. The brown furry creature with a cat-like body, long tail, and
weasel-like face has long been coveted by those who believe its tender
flesh will improve their health and complexion. Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome (SARS) emerged in Guangdong in November 2002 and was soon spread
by travelers. The disease eventually killed some 800 people around the
world and infected about 8000.
-
- A top Chinese health official warned, on Sat 16 Oct 2004,
of the increased risk of infectious diseases, such as SARS and avian influenza,
jumping across the border to Hong Kong in 2005, as more Chinese travel
to the southern city for work and play. Speaking after a 2-day meeting
with health officials from Hong Kong and Macau, Chinese Vice Minister for
Health Huang Jiefu stressed the need for surveillance and information sharing
to control the spread of infectious diseases.
-
- http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-10/18/content_383421.htm
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- Civet cats and some other animals are undoubtedly susceptible
to SARS coronavirus infection, but the role of civet cats in the epidemiology
of the human disease of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) remains
unclear. Even assuming that civet cats were the source of the outbreak
of SARS beginning in South China in 2002/2003, banning the consumption
of civet cat meat in Guangdong province only can have limited success.
These animals are widespread in the wild and in captivity, hence contact
between humans and civet cats could occur anywhere in China and beyond.
Coronaviruses are spread mainly by respiratory routes, and cooked meat
would not be infectious. Banning of civet cat farming might be a more effective
measure. - Mod.CP
-
-
- Patricia A. Doyle, PhD
- Please visit my "Emerging Diseases" message
board at:
- http://www.clickitnews.com/ubbthreads/postlist.php?
- Cat=&Board=emergingdiseases
- Zhan le Devlesa tai sastimasa
- Go with God and in Good Health
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