― Rockist Scientist, Friday, 23 May 2003 15:42 (twenty years ago) link
― hstencil, Friday, 23 May 2003 15:51 (twenty years ago) link
― Rockist Scientist, Friday, 23 May 2003 15:54 (twenty years ago) link
Masked palm civets have short fur that can be brown, orange, red or gray, with black bands on the head and feet. They eat mostly fruit, weigh up to 13 pounds and have bodies that grow up to two-and-a-half feet long, with tails of nearly equal length.
Judging from their activity and feeding habits, infected civets do not appear to feel any ill-effects from the virus. Only a small number of civets have been tested so far. Professor Yuen declined to say precisely how many, but most seemed to have the virus.
It is possible that the disease originated in another species and then spread to the civets, he said at a news conference this afternoon, while adding that he believed that the disease came to people from civets. While no tests have been done, it is also "theoretically possible" that household cats could become infected, as they are very similar biologically to civets, Professor Yuen added.
The raising and slaughter of civets and other exotic animals should be strictly regulated to prevent further outbreaks of SARS and possibly other new diseases, he said, while contending that a total ban on consumption of them could not succeed. "It is very difficult to stop a culture; it has been there for 5,000 years," he said.
― hstencil, Friday, 23 May 2003 15:56 (twenty years ago) link
There is nothing strange about the Sars coronavirus, they said; it certainly evolved from other known viruses.
One leading expert said Professor Wickramasinghe's letter "must be a joke"; another said it is simply ridiculous.'
surely it is the Professor's name that is the joke here?!@@
― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Friday, 23 May 2003 15:59 (twenty years ago) link
― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Friday, 23 May 2003 16:32 (twenty years ago) link
THEY GOT THE DISEASE BECAUSE THEY WERE EATING KITTENS DO YOU SEE?
GOD IS A TWEE BASTARD
― Millar (Millar), Friday, 23 May 2003 17:33 (twenty years ago) link
― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Friday, 23 May 2003 18:14 (twenty years ago) link
― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Friday, 23 May 2003 18:19 (twenty years ago) link
― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Friday, 23 May 2003 18:24 (twenty years ago) link
― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Friday, 23 May 2003 18:27 (twenty years ago) link
― Millar (Millar), Friday, 23 May 2003 18:36 (twenty years ago) link
― gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 23 May 2003 18:40 (twenty years ago) link
AIDS - mysterious lethal disease whose appearance is attributed to a virus spontaneously "jumping" from one species to another
I need to not be so paranoid.
― conspiracy theoristalicious (nickalicious), Friday, 23 May 2003 18:44 (twenty years ago) link
― j.lu (j.lu), Friday, 23 May 2003 18:46 (twenty years ago) link
― Millar (Millar), Friday, 23 May 2003 18:46 (twenty years ago) link
― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Friday, 23 May 2003 18:48 (twenty years ago) link
― Mary (Mary), Friday, 23 May 2003 19:33 (twenty years ago) link
I for one am massively impressed by the way knowledge and research data about this disease has travelled through the international medical community. I think the way this has been handled by the WHO etc. is nothing short of amazing, really. Look at where we years ago with regard to similar new illnesses. Like Wow.
― Millar (Millar), Friday, 23 May 2003 19:39 (twenty years ago) link
― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Friday, 23 May 2003 19:43 (twenty years ago) link
― Mary (Mary), Friday, 23 May 2003 22:45 (twenty years ago) link
― Millar (Millar), Friday, 23 May 2003 22:49 (twenty years ago) link