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Consuming Monkey Meat may be Invitation to New Disease

by Kathy Jones on May 28 2012 6:49 PM

 Consuming Monkey Meat may be Invitation to New Disease
While monkey meat is viewed as a popular delicacy in Cameroon, the country’s scientists have warned that the meat could trigger a new disease as it may contain a virus that is similar to HIV.
Bush meat is eaten by a large number of people across the world and includes meat of chimpanzees, gorillas and monkeys.

However Babila Tafon, the chief Veterinarian of the primate sanctuary Ape Action Africa, revealed that he has found a virus in the meat that is similar to HIV.

Known as Simian foamy virus, it is being suspected to have caused the deaths of 25 villagers who ate meat from a dead gorilla. “Illegal hunters exposing themselves to such virus by eating the apes flesh are more exposed to the virus which may cause a potential mutation to form a new aggressive form of virus”, Professor Dorninique Baudon, the director of the Pasteur Centre in Yaounde, said.

Source-Medindia


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