Source of SARS Found
By Andrew Gaeddert
Two scientific teams have identified the Chinese Horseshoe Bat as the most likely reservoir for the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) virus.1 An earlier finding suggested that palm civets, a cat like animal, were responsible for spreading the virus, but widespread infection could not be found. It is possible, however, that civets may pick up the virus form infected bats, which are sold in live markets in close proximity to other animals. Chinese authorities are taking actions to minimize contacts between bats, humans, and farmed civets, and eliminate infected animals from live markets.
Notes
- Altman, Lawrence K. 2 Teams Identify Chinese Bat As SARS Virus Hiding Place, nytimes.com, Sept. 30, 2005.